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The Cornish Cream Tea Novels #7
The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop: Cornish Cream Tea, Book 7
Ollie Spencer has started a new life in the idyllic Cornish seaside town of Port Karadow. Throwing herself into her job at the town’s bookshop, A New Chapter, is one way to make friends. The shop is glitzing up for first Christmas and Ollie hopes her inspired ideas will give the shop the edge it needs to dazzle the town. But far from being the Sugar Plum fairy the place needs, Ollie is fast becoming its Christmas pudding. With the bookshop’s success at stake, Ollie turns to twinkly-eyed café owner Max for help. Can he help Ollie to turn the page, and put the sparkle back into her Cornish dream?
Audible Audio
Published November 10, 2022
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About the author
Cressida McLaughlin
61 books695 followersI grew up in London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. I studied English Literature at the University of East Anglia and live in Norwich with my husband David.
I'm a total book nerd and my TBR pile is out of control. I would quite like to be a ghost hunter, and I'm a huge fan of a fictional hero.
When I'm not writing, I spend my spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.
I love hearing from readers, so please get in touch if you have a question or if you just want to say hello.
I'm a total book nerd and my TBR pile is out of control. I would quite like to be a ghost hunter, and I'm a huge fan of a fictional hero.
When I'm not writing, I spend my spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.
I love hearing from readers, so please get in touch if you have a question or if you just want to say hello.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 15, 2023
Loved it.
This was a Christmas present from my sister, who gave it me a few weeks before as she said it would 'get me in the Christmas mood!'
It certainly did that!
What a lovely book about books! Ollie moves to Cornwall from London, and some people are affronted by her ideas to turn around her local bookshop. Ollie's optimism oozes from the pages, and had me constantly smiling. Her ideas were fabulous, and made me want to work in a bookshop (I know, dream job!), but more specifically that bookshop! Or even have it in my community so I could visit!
There was so much to like, the Christmas feel, the characters, the drama, and all the talk of books!
I would love to read more books by this author!
This was a Christmas present from my sister, who gave it me a few weeks before as she said it would 'get me in the Christmas mood!'
It certainly did that!
What a lovely book about books! Ollie moves to Cornwall from London, and some people are affronted by her ideas to turn around her local bookshop. Ollie's optimism oozes from the pages, and had me constantly smiling. Her ideas were fabulous, and made me want to work in a bookshop (I know, dream job!), but more specifically that bookshop! Or even have it in my community so I could visit!
There was so much to like, the Christmas feel, the characters, the drama, and all the talk of books!
I would love to read more books by this author!
November 7, 2022
This was such a cosy and enjoyably festive contemporary romance that I didn’t want to put down! It follows Ollie Spencer who moves from London to the idyllic Cornish seaside town of Port Karadow after suffering an injury that led to a long period out of work, and a demotion that left her feeling dejected.
But with a fresh start and her new job at the newly opened bookshop, A New Chapter has reignited her love for all things books—and Ollie is determined to make sure I’m the shop is a success. With the town gearing up for the festive season, and the Bookshop’s first Christmas Ollie hopes her ideas will give it the edge it needs to dazzle the town.
But with one disaster after another, Ollie’s ideas may just put the Bookshop in stake. So Ollie turns to the charismatic café owner, Max for help. Can he help Ollie turn things around, and out the sparkle back into her Cornish dreams?
If you’re looking for a book to start off the festive season with, then The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop should definitely be on your list as it’s such a warmhearted and compelling read.
I really loved Ollie, who was such a wholesome bundle of sunshine despite the hardships she’s been through. Though her optimistic outlook and can do attitude does seem to cause a little tension with one of her co-workers which does (for a time) knock her confidence—it’s something that I could personally relate to and I really felt for her during those moments.
I also loved her adorably sweet, slightly slow burn friendship/relationship with Max, the local cafè owner and one of the most cinnamon-rolly love interests I’ve ever encountered. He’s such a kindhearted person and I really loved the intense emotional buildup between them.
The expansive cast of characters were all pretty amazing and the supportive, tight-knit community was absolutely lovely. This is the seventh book in the Cornish Cream Tea Bus series though, but it can be read as a standalone, I’m relatively new to the series myself so I can’t say how many characters have been introduced in previous instalments but if you’re looking to get the most enjoyment (and context into the inhabitants of port Karadow and the surrounding towns) I’d definitely recommend reading the rest of the series.
I also absolutely ADORED one of the sub plots surrounding the identity of an author who’s out of print series has reignited Ollie’s love of reading and encouraged her to check out the books local settings. I did guess the author’s identity but the reveal was still soo utterly satisfying.
Overall a fabulously upbeat and entertaining romance that small romance lovers and festive fiction affectionados are bound to devour this holiday season.
Also, a huge thank you to randomthings tours and Harper collins for this stunning PB copy.
But with a fresh start and her new job at the newly opened bookshop, A New Chapter has reignited her love for all things books—and Ollie is determined to make sure I’m the shop is a success. With the town gearing up for the festive season, and the Bookshop’s first Christmas Ollie hopes her ideas will give it the edge it needs to dazzle the town.
But with one disaster after another, Ollie’s ideas may just put the Bookshop in stake. So Ollie turns to the charismatic café owner, Max for help. Can he help Ollie turn things around, and out the sparkle back into her Cornish dreams?
If you’re looking for a book to start off the festive season with, then The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop should definitely be on your list as it’s such a warmhearted and compelling read.
I really loved Ollie, who was such a wholesome bundle of sunshine despite the hardships she’s been through. Though her optimistic outlook and can do attitude does seem to cause a little tension with one of her co-workers which does (for a time) knock her confidence—it’s something that I could personally relate to and I really felt for her during those moments.
I also loved her adorably sweet, slightly slow burn friendship/relationship with Max, the local cafè owner and one of the most cinnamon-rolly love interests I’ve ever encountered. He’s such a kindhearted person and I really loved the intense emotional buildup between them.
The expansive cast of characters were all pretty amazing and the supportive, tight-knit community was absolutely lovely. This is the seventh book in the Cornish Cream Tea Bus series though, but it can be read as a standalone, I’m relatively new to the series myself so I can’t say how many characters have been introduced in previous instalments but if you’re looking to get the most enjoyment (and context into the inhabitants of port Karadow and the surrounding towns) I’d definitely recommend reading the rest of the series.
I also absolutely ADORED one of the sub plots surrounding the identity of an author who’s out of print series has reignited Ollie’s love of reading and encouraged her to check out the books local settings. I did guess the author’s identity but the reveal was still soo utterly satisfying.
Overall a fabulously upbeat and entertaining romance that small romance lovers and festive fiction affectionados are bound to devour this holiday season.
Also, a huge thank you to randomthings tours and Harper collins for this stunning PB copy.
December 24, 2022
Another great read from McLaughlin and I can’t believe I have finally caught up with all the books in this series. Admittedly, this instalment was one of my favourite because it features so many fantastic elements: seaside, bookshop, Christmas and hot chocolate. It was a book of dreams and another well-written story.
Despite being so far into the series, this book can easily be read on its own. In my previous reviews, I have argued that it would be nice for older characters to have a more substantial role in the plot; once again, they feature only marginally but I did enjoy meeting new residents of Port Karadow. This time, it is Ollie who has moved to the area and starts working in A New Chapter, a bookshop that readers saw being established in the previous novel. Undoubtedly, Ollie’s enthusiasm is infectious and I loved how vibrant her attitude is throughout the book. However, this does not always make things easy for Ollie: her enthusiastic plans do not always go as intended and she finds resistance towards her attitude along the way.
This is one of the elements that makes McLaughlin’s books so enjoyable: the characters are vivid and realistic. Nothing is picture-perfect and the characters demonstrate a weakness or vulnerability. It makes them so relatable, even if they do live in such an idyllic location! Ollie’s determination at helping the bookshop succeed is based on her own demons that haunt her from her accident. It drives her forwards but can also be a hindrance as well. Ollie surprises herself when she gets things right and this is also with her growing friendship with Max.
Max is portrayed as such an adorable character and I felt really invested in this love interest. Whilst residents may criticise the two characters for moving too quickly, I thought their relationship was long overdue. I loved seeing how happy Ollie and Max made one another; the support they provide is so valuable and it really allowed Ollie to start believing in herself again.
Not only does this book feature a bookshop and Ollie’s enthusiasm, but McLaughlin also details local myths and legends, adding an element of mystery to the story. I liked this theme of the book because it increased the festive magic of the plot. As Ollie goes ‘myth hunting’, I enjoyed being a part of her discoveries and the atmosphere generated as she learns more about the local stories. Furthermore, when the mysteries intensify into something bigger, I was really keen to see how Ollie would turn this to be an advantage to the bookshop she clearly loves.
This was another lovely read from the series and I wonder if further books will remain just as different? I have missed not seeing the Cream Tea bus, but have appreciated how vastly different each story has become. In this case, it is the perfect Christmas read and one that will have you feeling full of tinsel from head to toe.
With thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being so far into the series, this book can easily be read on its own. In my previous reviews, I have argued that it would be nice for older characters to have a more substantial role in the plot; once again, they feature only marginally but I did enjoy meeting new residents of Port Karadow. This time, it is Ollie who has moved to the area and starts working in A New Chapter, a bookshop that readers saw being established in the previous novel. Undoubtedly, Ollie’s enthusiasm is infectious and I loved how vibrant her attitude is throughout the book. However, this does not always make things easy for Ollie: her enthusiastic plans do not always go as intended and she finds resistance towards her attitude along the way.
This is one of the elements that makes McLaughlin’s books so enjoyable: the characters are vivid and realistic. Nothing is picture-perfect and the characters demonstrate a weakness or vulnerability. It makes them so relatable, even if they do live in such an idyllic location! Ollie’s determination at helping the bookshop succeed is based on her own demons that haunt her from her accident. It drives her forwards but can also be a hindrance as well. Ollie surprises herself when she gets things right and this is also with her growing friendship with Max.
Max is portrayed as such an adorable character and I felt really invested in this love interest. Whilst residents may criticise the two characters for moving too quickly, I thought their relationship was long overdue. I loved seeing how happy Ollie and Max made one another; the support they provide is so valuable and it really allowed Ollie to start believing in herself again.
Not only does this book feature a bookshop and Ollie’s enthusiasm, but McLaughlin also details local myths and legends, adding an element of mystery to the story. I liked this theme of the book because it increased the festive magic of the plot. As Ollie goes ‘myth hunting’, I enjoyed being a part of her discoveries and the atmosphere generated as she learns more about the local stories. Furthermore, when the mysteries intensify into something bigger, I was really keen to see how Ollie would turn this to be an advantage to the bookshop she clearly loves.
This was another lovely read from the series and I wonder if further books will remain just as different? I have missed not seeing the Cream Tea bus, but have appreciated how vastly different each story has become. In this case, it is the perfect Christmas read and one that will have you feeling full of tinsel from head to toe.
With thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2022
The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop is the seventh book in Cressida McLaughlin's Cornish Cream Tea series. Ollie Spencer works in the bookshop, A New Chapter, in the picturesque Cornish tourist town of Port Karadow, having moved from London. Ollie hopes to love her new job but she's not liked by another employee at the shop, Becky. Ollie will be responsible for organising events for Thea Rushwood, A New Chapter's owner, helping her expand the business. Plans include a coffee area for customers and a book club. Ollie catches the eye of Max who owns and works at the café, Sea Brew.
It was fantastic to be back with some of the characters from previous books, including Meredith Verren who works in the gift shop, Cornish Keepsakes. This tale is packed to the rafters with cosiness. There are festive twinkly bits, baking treats, and a party and it's gently Christmassy. Community spirit, family, romance and friendship all feature in this evocative and sweet story. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
It was fantastic to be back with some of the characters from previous books, including Meredith Verren who works in the gift shop, Cornish Keepsakes. This tale is packed to the rafters with cosiness. There are festive twinkly bits, baking treats, and a party and it's gently Christmassy. Community spirit, family, romance and friendship all feature in this evocative and sweet story. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 10, 2022
The perfect book to read at this time of year, when it's cold and dreary outside, this book provides a warm and cosy, Christmas joy filled hug. The book works well as a stand alone, but if you're familiar with the series then you also get the added joy of catching up with old friends from previous tales. A delight to read, I loved it.
Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.
November 27, 2022
3-4 stars, a great festive read enhanced by the bookshop setting with lots of literary references. I did enjoy this, I just find myself wanting to read crime when I have quite a few Christmas 'chick lit' books to get through - typical!
November 25, 2022
Straight away I’ll admit that the first few books in Cressida McLaughlin’s Cornish Cream Tea series I adored and then I found I didn’t enjoy the books midway through the series as much. But with these last two books, books six and seven, I feel the series has returned to its earlier form and I can’t get enough of it. I was gutted to finish The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday back in the summer as it was a book that had me hooked from the first word and to reach the end was just heart-breaking. I wish it could have gone on and on forever as it just had the most magical setting and a brilliant main character in Thea but nearing the end I sensed that that wouldn’t be the last we would hear from Thea and her plans for a new bookshop in Port Kadow and thankfully I wasn’t wrong.
After only several short months of a wait, along has come The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop and as soon as it landed on my Kindle I just had to read it. I didn’t care that it was October and Halloween mode was in full swing. No give me everything Christmas and even better if it is centred around a bookshop. Cressida delivered on every level with this book and at the time of writing this review in November I have since read several Christmas books but this has to be my favourite. The magic and essence of the most favourite time of year was here in abundance and combined with a new character Ollie and some heart-warming and at times nerve wracking storylines this made for the perfect Christmas read that everyone should have firmly on their Christmas TBR this year.
Ollie Spencer hasn’t been able to work for several months at her dream job in Grady’s books in London due to an accident but thanks to a significant pay out from said accident, and the fact her boss hasn’t been best pleased that she has not been at work, Ollie has taken the bull by the horns and decided to move to Cornwall. Her best friend Melissa’s granddad lives in the village of Port Kadow and he has asked will she type up his life story for him. Ollie views this opportunity as a much needed fresh start and she is looking forward to a slower pace of life and to enjoy the seaside vibe. Port Kadow will be familiar to long time readers of this series but new readers will immediately feel right at home.
Cressida does such a fantastic job of describing the setting and through rich vivid imagery you can easily establish a clear picture in your head. With its curved harbour, cobbled streets and lush green countryside it’s a complete change for Ollie but it’s providing her with a chance to hit the reset button on her life especially after a recent messy breakup with her boyfriend Guy. She wants a peaceful, more fulfilling life but at the same time her love of books and her rock solid work ethic is still there burning strong. So when she sees that Thea has opened a new bookshop located in the old post office which overlooks the village and staff are wanted of course she jumps at the chance and gets the job.
Ollie is a whirlwind of energy and never seems to stop. She is always bursting with ideas and enthusiasm and she can never sit back and relax and just ease herself into her new job. It’s like she is always trying to prove herself and continually goes the extra miles to achieve her goals. She wants to impress Thea and put A New Chapter on the map as the bookshop to go to. I felt Thea did want Ollie working for her but she was apprehensive that Ollie was trying to do much to soon and was perhaps too aspirational in what she was trying to achieve. When we last left Thea she has just purchased the shop and nothing had been done to it but now the renovations are complete and from the descriptions it really did sound like a slice of bookshop heaven. I just wondered, due to the boisterous and over exuberant nature of Ollie, would her plans for events and promoting the shop just be too much? Would things spill over into disaster rather than success?
Being away from London gives Ollie time to think about in which direction she wishes her life to go in but her reckless side often over rules the more sensible side and really she needed to find that balance without offending people or worst of all losing the job she really was perfect for. Even Becky who works at the bookshop is not reluctant to show Ollie how she feels about her and all the plans she has but Ollie is determined to prove Becky and Thea wrong. That she can show them what potential there is with the bookshop and that doing things a little outside the norm may be good after all. Ollie gets to plan and as well as typing up Liam’s life story she is full of energy and plotting and planning lots of events and promotions and you can’t but admire her spirit and wish that you had as much drive as she did.
Ollie wants to feel less alone and to build a life in the town and above all else to make a difference at the bookshop and with her can do attitude and her bucketful of ideas in the run up to Christmas she is determined to prove her harshest critics wrong. It sounds awful to say but I almost was turned against Ollie at some points because of the attitudes of others especially Becky and I shouldn’t have felt that way and the further I read the more I felt ashamed for feeling like this. It sounds ridiculous to say that about a fictional character but it just shows how deeply invested I had become in Ollie’s story but also I was still so caught up in Thea’s dream of having a successful bookshop that I didn’t want Ollie to up scuttle things with over the top suggestions that could potentially go very wrong. But the more Ollie starts to instigate changes in the bookshop and come up with promotional ideas such as the cookery demonstration, the Christmas workshops and an event with a big author the more I really started to root for her. She shows she has a creative side, is productive and generous and is someone who never shies away from a challenge.
I have to say I loved the strand of the story that revolved around a set of books that Ollie came across by an author who wrote about the local area in a series of mystery books. It was like Ollie became a super sleuth and wanted to know more about this person when there was scant information about them and working the legends of the area into the story was just brilliant and had me glued to the pages dying to know more. I had a sneaking suspicion as to who it could be and I was proven right but the way this all came about was just so magical and apt and it brings a smile to your face. I can’t fail to mention Max, owner of the local cafe. He was such a support and so reassuring to Ollie and the reader can see that their friendship grows very strong and you become desperate for it to develop into something more. The adventures they go on and the help he gives Ollie were a joy to read about and I loved how this strand of the story was just so beautifully and naturally developed with a constant will they won’t they feeling throughout.
The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop was a fabulous festive read packed full of unforgettable characters, Christmas magic and sparkle and will certainly get you in the mood for the most exciting and wonderful time of year. You can tell just how much Cressida is enjoying writing this series and her love for the characters and the setting just spills off every page. I devoured this book in short order and know many readers will too. It’s the perfect book to read at this time of year so make sure you sit back and relax with a glass of something nice or even some Christmas chocolate and savour every moment of this wonderful story as you journey with a determined Ollie as she navigates a rocky path to both professional and personal happiness and fulfilment. Thankfully, this isn’t the last in the series as From Cornwall With Love will be published in June 2023. Not that I am wishing my life away or anything but I’m already looking forward to what in store for us with this new book.
After only several short months of a wait, along has come The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop and as soon as it landed on my Kindle I just had to read it. I didn’t care that it was October and Halloween mode was in full swing. No give me everything Christmas and even better if it is centred around a bookshop. Cressida delivered on every level with this book and at the time of writing this review in November I have since read several Christmas books but this has to be my favourite. The magic and essence of the most favourite time of year was here in abundance and combined with a new character Ollie and some heart-warming and at times nerve wracking storylines this made for the perfect Christmas read that everyone should have firmly on their Christmas TBR this year.
Ollie Spencer hasn’t been able to work for several months at her dream job in Grady’s books in London due to an accident but thanks to a significant pay out from said accident, and the fact her boss hasn’t been best pleased that she has not been at work, Ollie has taken the bull by the horns and decided to move to Cornwall. Her best friend Melissa’s granddad lives in the village of Port Kadow and he has asked will she type up his life story for him. Ollie views this opportunity as a much needed fresh start and she is looking forward to a slower pace of life and to enjoy the seaside vibe. Port Kadow will be familiar to long time readers of this series but new readers will immediately feel right at home.
Cressida does such a fantastic job of describing the setting and through rich vivid imagery you can easily establish a clear picture in your head. With its curved harbour, cobbled streets and lush green countryside it’s a complete change for Ollie but it’s providing her with a chance to hit the reset button on her life especially after a recent messy breakup with her boyfriend Guy. She wants a peaceful, more fulfilling life but at the same time her love of books and her rock solid work ethic is still there burning strong. So when she sees that Thea has opened a new bookshop located in the old post office which overlooks the village and staff are wanted of course she jumps at the chance and gets the job.
Ollie is a whirlwind of energy and never seems to stop. She is always bursting with ideas and enthusiasm and she can never sit back and relax and just ease herself into her new job. It’s like she is always trying to prove herself and continually goes the extra miles to achieve her goals. She wants to impress Thea and put A New Chapter on the map as the bookshop to go to. I felt Thea did want Ollie working for her but she was apprehensive that Ollie was trying to do much to soon and was perhaps too aspirational in what she was trying to achieve. When we last left Thea she has just purchased the shop and nothing had been done to it but now the renovations are complete and from the descriptions it really did sound like a slice of bookshop heaven. I just wondered, due to the boisterous and over exuberant nature of Ollie, would her plans for events and promoting the shop just be too much? Would things spill over into disaster rather than success?
Being away from London gives Ollie time to think about in which direction she wishes her life to go in but her reckless side often over rules the more sensible side and really she needed to find that balance without offending people or worst of all losing the job she really was perfect for. Even Becky who works at the bookshop is not reluctant to show Ollie how she feels about her and all the plans she has but Ollie is determined to prove Becky and Thea wrong. That she can show them what potential there is with the bookshop and that doing things a little outside the norm may be good after all. Ollie gets to plan and as well as typing up Liam’s life story she is full of energy and plotting and planning lots of events and promotions and you can’t but admire her spirit and wish that you had as much drive as she did.
Ollie wants to feel less alone and to build a life in the town and above all else to make a difference at the bookshop and with her can do attitude and her bucketful of ideas in the run up to Christmas she is determined to prove her harshest critics wrong. It sounds awful to say but I almost was turned against Ollie at some points because of the attitudes of others especially Becky and I shouldn’t have felt that way and the further I read the more I felt ashamed for feeling like this. It sounds ridiculous to say that about a fictional character but it just shows how deeply invested I had become in Ollie’s story but also I was still so caught up in Thea’s dream of having a successful bookshop that I didn’t want Ollie to up scuttle things with over the top suggestions that could potentially go very wrong. But the more Ollie starts to instigate changes in the bookshop and come up with promotional ideas such as the cookery demonstration, the Christmas workshops and an event with a big author the more I really started to root for her. She shows she has a creative side, is productive and generous and is someone who never shies away from a challenge.
I have to say I loved the strand of the story that revolved around a set of books that Ollie came across by an author who wrote about the local area in a series of mystery books. It was like Ollie became a super sleuth and wanted to know more about this person when there was scant information about them and working the legends of the area into the story was just brilliant and had me glued to the pages dying to know more. I had a sneaking suspicion as to who it could be and I was proven right but the way this all came about was just so magical and apt and it brings a smile to your face. I can’t fail to mention Max, owner of the local cafe. He was such a support and so reassuring to Ollie and the reader can see that their friendship grows very strong and you become desperate for it to develop into something more. The adventures they go on and the help he gives Ollie were a joy to read about and I loved how this strand of the story was just so beautifully and naturally developed with a constant will they won’t they feeling throughout.
The Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop was a fabulous festive read packed full of unforgettable characters, Christmas magic and sparkle and will certainly get you in the mood for the most exciting and wonderful time of year. You can tell just how much Cressida is enjoying writing this series and her love for the characters and the setting just spills off every page. I devoured this book in short order and know many readers will too. It’s the perfect book to read at this time of year so make sure you sit back and relax with a glass of something nice or even some Christmas chocolate and savour every moment of this wonderful story as you journey with a determined Ollie as she navigates a rocky path to both professional and personal happiness and fulfilment. Thankfully, this isn’t the last in the series as From Cornwall With Love will be published in June 2023. Not that I am wishing my life away or anything but I’m already looking forward to what in store for us with this new book.
November 10, 2022
This novel is one of seven in the Cornish Cream Tea series but works beautifully as a standalone. It tells the story of Ollie Spencer, who, after an accident with a flying piece of scaffolding, gets a compensation payout and decides to upend her entire life and move to the picturesque fictional town of Port Karadow in Cornwall. She sets herself up in a gorgeous barn conversion, complete with a roaring log fire, and the benevolent owner OAP Liam Byrne living next door. She and Liam strike up an unlikely friendship while Ollie helps him write up his life's memoirs. She gets a job in ailing bookshop A New Chapter, a fitting name because her new chapter is just beginning.
The only thing missing is her love life but McLaughlin tells us "men were nowhere near the top of her to-do list". Enter gorgeous cafe shop owner Max!
I fell in love with the charming character of Ollie. She invests her boundless energy into A New Chapter, setting up book clubs, book wars, readings by local literati and craft workshops.
The book begins just before Halloween and follows Ollie on her bookish adventures in the run up to, and including, the festive season, with a literary mystery thrown in for good measure.
Ollie throws herself into the job, soon coming to the attention of the wonderful, sexy Max snd the chemistry crackles between the pair like the roaring log fires as winter sers in. The novel is filled with festive cheer making it a perfect Christmas gift for your bookish friends.
Ollie is an immensely likeable protagonist and we root fir her from the outset. Sometimes her ambition is overreaching and events she initialises at the bookstore are less festive fun than dodgy Christmas capers!
Ollie is the type of person who looks at the world and wants to make it a better place and soon her attraction to Max goes beyond her weakness for his sausage rolls and chai lattes!
Alongside beautiful evocation of place, as McLaughlin brings alive the idyllic Cornish coastline, this novel is that wonderous thing; a book about the love of books. Ollie is also researching the local folklore and her story is imbued with local history.
As Ollie falls head over heels for Max, we do too. He is kind, thoughtful, generous and gorgeous to boot and we root for the couple from the outset. This book is set close to the shore, but can Ollie make waves with dashing Max, or will events beyond their control end their union abruptly?
This book is delightfully Christmassy and as warming and comforting as one of Max's hot chocolates.
I give this novel a well deserved five stars; get your copy, settle down with a mulled wine and allow McLaughlin's delightful festive prose to wash over you. It's the kind of book, on finishing, you snap shut with a contented sigh. I know it's a tad early but merry Christmas everyone!
The only thing missing is her love life but McLaughlin tells us "men were nowhere near the top of her to-do list". Enter gorgeous cafe shop owner Max!
I fell in love with the charming character of Ollie. She invests her boundless energy into A New Chapter, setting up book clubs, book wars, readings by local literati and craft workshops.
The book begins just before Halloween and follows Ollie on her bookish adventures in the run up to, and including, the festive season, with a literary mystery thrown in for good measure.
Ollie throws herself into the job, soon coming to the attention of the wonderful, sexy Max snd the chemistry crackles between the pair like the roaring log fires as winter sers in. The novel is filled with festive cheer making it a perfect Christmas gift for your bookish friends.
Ollie is an immensely likeable protagonist and we root fir her from the outset. Sometimes her ambition is overreaching and events she initialises at the bookstore are less festive fun than dodgy Christmas capers!
Ollie is the type of person who looks at the world and wants to make it a better place and soon her attraction to Max goes beyond her weakness for his sausage rolls and chai lattes!
Alongside beautiful evocation of place, as McLaughlin brings alive the idyllic Cornish coastline, this novel is that wonderous thing; a book about the love of books. Ollie is also researching the local folklore and her story is imbued with local history.
As Ollie falls head over heels for Max, we do too. He is kind, thoughtful, generous and gorgeous to boot and we root for the couple from the outset. This book is set close to the shore, but can Ollie make waves with dashing Max, or will events beyond their control end their union abruptly?
This book is delightfully Christmassy and as warming and comforting as one of Max's hot chocolates.
I give this novel a well deserved five stars; get your copy, settle down with a mulled wine and allow McLaughlin's delightful festive prose to wash over you. It's the kind of book, on finishing, you snap shut with a contented sigh. I know it's a tad early but merry Christmas everyone!
November 22, 2023
A lovely cosy read set in a small town bookshop by the sea.
Ollie has just moved to Port Karradow to take up the events organiser role at the new bookshop in town. She is super eager, but not all the staff are happy she is there. She starts to investigate the local legends and bumps into Max, the lovely cafe owner, who helps her in her investigations.
I really loved both Ollie and Max as characters, and enjoyed being back in the small town as older characters were interspersed throughout. It was nice that the romance was so sweet and that together the pair overcame whatever was thrown at them.
Ollie has just moved to Port Karradow to take up the events organiser role at the new bookshop in town. She is super eager, but not all the staff are happy she is there. She starts to investigate the local legends and bumps into Max, the lovely cafe owner, who helps her in her investigations.
I really loved both Ollie and Max as characters, and enjoyed being back in the small town as older characters were interspersed throughout. It was nice that the romance was so sweet and that together the pair overcame whatever was thrown at them.
November 2, 2022
Beautiful! What an amazing story about friendship, love and a positive can do attitude. The connection between Ollie and Max was so vibrant, Max was such a strong quiet strength to Ollie, and I loved all his gentle arm and leg squeezes of encouragement.
Liam was a brilliant character too, I was just as enthralled in his myths as Ollie, I could totally imagine sitting in his library hanging off his every word.
It was nice to see old familiar faces and catching up with their story. This is a lovely addition to this series.
Liam was a brilliant character too, I was just as enthralled in his myths as Ollie, I could totally imagine sitting in his library hanging off his every word.
It was nice to see old familiar faces and catching up with their story. This is a lovely addition to this series.
January 2, 2023
“The room itself was beautitul, with large windows letting in the soft autumn sunshine, and showing off Port Karadon a tumble of rooftops down to the glistening harbour, in al its pretty, seaside glory.“
Whilst I enjoyed the characters in this immensely, I definitely preferred McLaughlin’s previous festive publication. However, this still contained the endearing essence that ‘The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas’ had and the tension between Ollie and Max was great. It was also lovely how McLaughlin drew comforting links to the spaces and characters that were in her previous work.
Whilst I enjoyed the characters in this immensely, I definitely preferred McLaughlin’s previous festive publication. However, this still contained the endearing essence that ‘The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas’ had and the tension between Ollie and Max was great. It was also lovely how McLaughlin drew comforting links to the spaces and characters that were in her previous work.
February 6, 2025
Затишна різдвяна історія, яка відьувається у маленькому корнуолльському містечку Port Karadow, оповита місцевими містичними легендами. Мені подобаються історії, які відбуваються у Корнуоллі 😊 приємно провела час
November 23, 2025
4.5 - did what it said on the tin
November 11, 2022
Leaving London after an accident, a break up and her best friend Melissa’s move to Portugal, Ollie is ready for her next chapter at New Chapter bookshop. Staying with Melissa’s grandad Liam in return for helping with his book she is full of ideas and brimming with excitement. Will she finally banish the loneliness and find family?
The best thing about reading a series is the feeling you get of coming home, the familiar scenery and faces from previous books. I knew that Ollie and her dog Henry Tilney would fit right in and I settled in to discover Port Karadow with her fresh eyes.
Soon she is discovering a handprint in a stone and local legends courtesy of master storyteller Liam and also a rather dishy cafe owner called Max. He can froth my cappuccino any day!
Like the Cornish sea it’s not all calm waters and smooth sailing though and as things turn a bit choppy (Ollie is a bit of a disaster) she will need Max to be her life raft.
This is another wonderful instalment, full of the joy of friends, the twinkle of romance and a fairy dust sprinkling of finding where you belong. The perfect book for Santa to leave under your Christmas tree.
The best thing about reading a series is the feeling you get of coming home, the familiar scenery and faces from previous books. I knew that Ollie and her dog Henry Tilney would fit right in and I settled in to discover Port Karadow with her fresh eyes.
Soon she is discovering a handprint in a stone and local legends courtesy of master storyteller Liam and also a rather dishy cafe owner called Max. He can froth my cappuccino any day!
Like the Cornish sea it’s not all calm waters and smooth sailing though and as things turn a bit choppy (Ollie is a bit of a disaster) she will need Max to be her life raft.
This is another wonderful instalment, full of the joy of friends, the twinkle of romance and a fairy dust sprinkling of finding where you belong. The perfect book for Santa to leave under your Christmas tree.
November 7, 2022
Loved this one. It does mention places from the other books so it all ties up. Lovely story set in a bookshop in Cornwall. I loved reading about all the characters and their choice of books. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 1, 2022
Novel number... seven, me thinks, in the Cornish Cream Tea series, though it can be easily read as a stand - alone.
My problem with the book was that I had a feeling that the plot is simply not moving forward. There are tons of descriptions, every kind of descriptions, everything is explained in a very detailed way, and even though there are things happening, the story simply doesn't move forward. Which ends in yours truly skipping passages, without a feeling that I'm missing on something, that I'm ommitting huge and important parts of the plot. No.
The main character, Ollie, well, I must say she's tasting. She's lovely, don't get me wrong, but sometimes there was too much of her, she was like a wind - up toy, never tired, and there were times that I was wary of her, so could understand how Thea and Becky were feeling.
But it doesn't mean that the book is not good. It's lovely, heart - warming, with a great sense of community, but it doesn't stand out. Nevertheless, the setting was great, the bookshop in the background couldn't be a better place to be. It was cosy and enjoyable.
My problem with the book was that I had a feeling that the plot is simply not moving forward. There are tons of descriptions, every kind of descriptions, everything is explained in a very detailed way, and even though there are things happening, the story simply doesn't move forward. Which ends in yours truly skipping passages, without a feeling that I'm missing on something, that I'm ommitting huge and important parts of the plot. No.
The main character, Ollie, well, I must say she's tasting. She's lovely, don't get me wrong, but sometimes there was too much of her, she was like a wind - up toy, never tired, and there were times that I was wary of her, so could understand how Thea and Becky were feeling.
But it doesn't mean that the book is not good. It's lovely, heart - warming, with a great sense of community, but it doesn't stand out. Nevertheless, the setting was great, the bookshop in the background couldn't be a better place to be. It was cosy and enjoyable.
May 18, 2025
Lovely easy read , you get very invested in all the characters, following Ollies journey from London to Cornwall . Real christmas romance feel good book.
November 23, 2022
At the start of the book we are introduced to Ollie. After an unfortunate accident that changed Ollie’s life she decides to move to Port Karadow and take up the role of bookseller in a bookshop called A New Chapter. Ollie’s plan is to make the bookshop the best bookshop that Port Karadow has ever seen by not only selling books but also organising a book club and author events. Max, the owner of the local café Sea Brew offers to help Ollie. In addition to her bookshop duties Ollie finds herself trying to solve the mystery behind a series of Cornish mystery books that are based in Cornwall by an author called Bryan Mailer who no one seems to have heard of. Will Ollie make A New Chapter a success and will she find Bryan Mailer.
I’ve said this in lots of my previous reviews but the Cornish Cream Tea series is probably one of my favourite series and a comfort series for me. I always look forward to the cover reveal and to find out what the story is going to be about. I love this series because it’s always a cosy and memorable read because I love Cornwall and I have a lot of happy memories of going to Cornwall as a child. To me Cornwall will always be a magical place. When I pick up any book in this series because of the descriptive way the scenery is written I am whisked away to Cornwall and don’t want to leave.
I adored the storyline and wouldn’t change anything about it. In The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday the reader was introduced to Thea who dreamed of opening her own bookshop. In this book Thea’s dream has come true and now Ollie is working in the bookshop. So this book is in some way a continuation and end to Thea’s story and the start of Ollie’s story. Ollie is ambitious, sparkly and full of energy. She is so enthusiastic about her role and books. She loves all things bookish so much so that she even named her dog Henry Tilney after the hero in Northanger Abbey. At times it felt like she was using this as a way to mask the pain that she regularly feels in her shoulder, a lasting reminder of the accident. Due to the accident Ollie was no longer considered an asset at her previous job because she had to slow down and now she feels like she has to work twice as hard to show Thea that she can still do an amazing job despite having a disability. Max was a lovely and sweet character. I loved the interactions between Ollie and Max and how Ollie would look forward to going to the café so she could see Max. Max also seemed to like Ollie even knowing her normal order off by heart but he never has the opportunity to spend time with her until the book club was set up.
I think that the disability/chronic illness representation was a brilliant touch to the story and added more depth to the characters of Ollie and Max. From the outside both Ollie and Max look like healthy young people but on the inside the story is very different. Both were in previous relationships but those relationships ended because their partners couldn’t deal with their medical issues and refused to make any kind of adjustments. I could definitely relate to Ollie and Max as characters because I also suffer from chronic illnesses. The author has brilliantly shown how people have to sometimes adapt to a change in their health.
I have read a lot of the author’s books and I’ve never come across a character that I wasn’t keen on until I was introduced to Becca. Becca appears to take a dislike to Ollie from the beginning and their interactions are not particularly pleasant. Although they don’t get on on a personal level there’s also a strain in their professional relationship because they both work at the bookshop. It’s not clear why Becca doesn’t like Ollie but maybe it’s because she is a stranger to the town, she has all of these new ideas for the bookshop and her general enthusiasm. But all that Ollie is trying to do is find a new home in Port Karadow, prove that she has the skills to make the bookshop a success and essentially put it on the map. It was nice to see at the end that Ollie and Becca do find common ground and do end up getting along.
A cosy read about books, change and starting over!
I’ve said this in lots of my previous reviews but the Cornish Cream Tea series is probably one of my favourite series and a comfort series for me. I always look forward to the cover reveal and to find out what the story is going to be about. I love this series because it’s always a cosy and memorable read because I love Cornwall and I have a lot of happy memories of going to Cornwall as a child. To me Cornwall will always be a magical place. When I pick up any book in this series because of the descriptive way the scenery is written I am whisked away to Cornwall and don’t want to leave.
I adored the storyline and wouldn’t change anything about it. In The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday the reader was introduced to Thea who dreamed of opening her own bookshop. In this book Thea’s dream has come true and now Ollie is working in the bookshop. So this book is in some way a continuation and end to Thea’s story and the start of Ollie’s story. Ollie is ambitious, sparkly and full of energy. She is so enthusiastic about her role and books. She loves all things bookish so much so that she even named her dog Henry Tilney after the hero in Northanger Abbey. At times it felt like she was using this as a way to mask the pain that she regularly feels in her shoulder, a lasting reminder of the accident. Due to the accident Ollie was no longer considered an asset at her previous job because she had to slow down and now she feels like she has to work twice as hard to show Thea that she can still do an amazing job despite having a disability. Max was a lovely and sweet character. I loved the interactions between Ollie and Max and how Ollie would look forward to going to the café so she could see Max. Max also seemed to like Ollie even knowing her normal order off by heart but he never has the opportunity to spend time with her until the book club was set up.
I think that the disability/chronic illness representation was a brilliant touch to the story and added more depth to the characters of Ollie and Max. From the outside both Ollie and Max look like healthy young people but on the inside the story is very different. Both were in previous relationships but those relationships ended because their partners couldn’t deal with their medical issues and refused to make any kind of adjustments. I could definitely relate to Ollie and Max as characters because I also suffer from chronic illnesses. The author has brilliantly shown how people have to sometimes adapt to a change in their health.
I have read a lot of the author’s books and I’ve never come across a character that I wasn’t keen on until I was introduced to Becca. Becca appears to take a dislike to Ollie from the beginning and their interactions are not particularly pleasant. Although they don’t get on on a personal level there’s also a strain in their professional relationship because they both work at the bookshop. It’s not clear why Becca doesn’t like Ollie but maybe it’s because she is a stranger to the town, she has all of these new ideas for the bookshop and her general enthusiasm. But all that Ollie is trying to do is find a new home in Port Karadow, prove that she has the skills to make the bookshop a success and essentially put it on the map. It was nice to see at the end that Ollie and Becca do find common ground and do end up getting along.
A cosy read about books, change and starting over!
November 17, 2022
I have been looking forward to this book for so long, pretty much since I finished The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday as that ends with Thea's bookshop idea - I'll not spoil it too much, but I just couldn't wait to get reading this one and knew it was going to be fantastic.
Cressida doesn't disappoint and she drew me into this book instantaneously, I loved getting to know Ollie and Henry Tilbury but then we meet Max and that's when you really know you're going to be hooked on it. They're both such lovely characters who have been hit with troubles recently - I really liked that Cressy focused more on the physical elements to this than the ex situations as I felt this actually made me sympathise with the situations a bit more. Especially Ollie and her shoulder as this was extremely relatable to me and I can sense what she was going through at many times.
This is a book about a bookshop so of course it was going to have lots of book references in it, which always makes me smile, but what really grabbed me in this was Bryan Mailer and his books as they sound incredible - a crime solving duo based on mythical legends - yes please! Especially Kerensa's Handprint which has that extra little something in my opinion.
Ollie faced a few hurdles along the course of this book but one in particular really struck me as I'm sure it will all readers, and your heart just goes out to both her and Max. Her friendship with Liam was almost the base to the whole story, after all he was half of the reason why she's moved to Port Karadow in the first place, but he turned into a real support for Ollie and gave me proper granddad vibes, especially with his Shepherd's Pie!
I wouldn't describe this book as 'full on Christmas' but there are loads of references and bits that relate to Christmas, from decorations to the chilly walks, the yule log (which is a tradition I never knew about) and then the treats at Sea Brew which made my tummy rumble every time they were mentioned. We also get to hear about the Christmas Pageant which was created in The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas and even a visit to the famous Cornish Cream Tea Bus and lots of familiar faces. I loved being back in Port Karadow and catching up with some old friends and can't wait for a return some time soon! Bring on the next one!
Cressida doesn't disappoint and she drew me into this book instantaneously, I loved getting to know Ollie and Henry Tilbury but then we meet Max and that's when you really know you're going to be hooked on it. They're both such lovely characters who have been hit with troubles recently - I really liked that Cressy focused more on the physical elements to this than the ex situations as I felt this actually made me sympathise with the situations a bit more. Especially Ollie and her shoulder as this was extremely relatable to me and I can sense what she was going through at many times.
This is a book about a bookshop so of course it was going to have lots of book references in it, which always makes me smile, but what really grabbed me in this was Bryan Mailer and his books as they sound incredible - a crime solving duo based on mythical legends - yes please! Especially Kerensa's Handprint which has that extra little something in my opinion.
Ollie faced a few hurdles along the course of this book but one in particular really struck me as I'm sure it will all readers, and your heart just goes out to both her and Max. Her friendship with Liam was almost the base to the whole story, after all he was half of the reason why she's moved to Port Karadow in the first place, but he turned into a real support for Ollie and gave me proper granddad vibes, especially with his Shepherd's Pie!
I wouldn't describe this book as 'full on Christmas' but there are loads of references and bits that relate to Christmas, from decorations to the chilly walks, the yule log (which is a tradition I never knew about) and then the treats at Sea Brew which made my tummy rumble every time they were mentioned. We also get to hear about the Christmas Pageant which was created in The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas and even a visit to the famous Cornish Cream Tea Bus and lots of familiar faces. I loved being back in Port Karadow and catching up with some old friends and can't wait for a return some time soon! Bring on the next one!
October 12, 2022
I dropped everything to read this book as I love this series! This is book #7 in the Cornish Cream Tea series, but it can be read as a standalone book if you haven’t read the other books in the series. We are back in the little Cornish seaside town of Port Karadow. Ollie Spencer has moved here from London and has got herself a job working in the town’s bookshop, A New Chapter. Can Ollie make this her new chapter as well?
This was a truly delightful read, and it was lovely to be back in Port Karadow. I remember Thea from the previous book, so it was lovely to see her again. The book shop has certainly come on from that book and it sounds absolutely amazing! As I read, I could picture what it was like, and I’d certainly give up my job in a library to own and work in a shop like that! Ollie was a lovely character, and I really took to her right from the beginning. I did think however that she was a little bit impulsive with organising the events in the bookshop, jumping in with both feet before stopping to think whether her ideas would work! Whilst some didn’t work out, she did come up with some great ways to bring customers into Leah’s shop and I wished I could have been there for them!
The book flowed along at a lovely pace. The storyline travelled through Halloween and Christmas, and this was perfect for this time of year. The other characters were a welcome addition – I really liked Liam and Max was wonderful! There were new characters, but there were also plenty of characters from previous books and it was lovely to reconnect with them all. As with the rest of the series, this book was that little bit of escapism from an otherwise hectic life, and it was a read filled with love and friendships! Heart-warming, fun and book themed…what more could I ask for!! Would recommend!
This was a truly delightful read, and it was lovely to be back in Port Karadow. I remember Thea from the previous book, so it was lovely to see her again. The book shop has certainly come on from that book and it sounds absolutely amazing! As I read, I could picture what it was like, and I’d certainly give up my job in a library to own and work in a shop like that! Ollie was a lovely character, and I really took to her right from the beginning. I did think however that she was a little bit impulsive with organising the events in the bookshop, jumping in with both feet before stopping to think whether her ideas would work! Whilst some didn’t work out, she did come up with some great ways to bring customers into Leah’s shop and I wished I could have been there for them!
The book flowed along at a lovely pace. The storyline travelled through Halloween and Christmas, and this was perfect for this time of year. The other characters were a welcome addition – I really liked Liam and Max was wonderful! There were new characters, but there were also plenty of characters from previous books and it was lovely to reconnect with them all. As with the rest of the series, this book was that little bit of escapism from an otherwise hectic life, and it was a read filled with love and friendships! Heart-warming, fun and book themed…what more could I ask for!! Would recommend!
October 10, 2022
Ohhh I’m so happy to be back in Port Karadow. A comforting retreat into the stunning surrounds of Cornwall and a host of new characters to fall in love with. I quickly warmed to Ollie’s character and I was invested from the get go.
Opening this book was like wrapping yourself in the warmest and cosiest of blankets, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of joy and loosing yourself in love and drama for a few hours. It was the most perfect escape from the world for a bit and I absolutely adored it.
Loved the plot. Loved the story. Liam is adorable. Max was perfect. And I also have to agree with Ollie and say Northanger Abbey is such an underrated Austen and wholeheartedly approve of the name of her adorable chocolate lab!
The development between Max and Ollie was a pure joy to read and the setting in the bookshop made for really enjoyable reading. I was so behind Ollie and her new job in the bookshop with Thea and Becky and I loved the plotting and planning that went on in bringing custom and events to the shop. I’m so sad to have finished it! More books in this series forever and onwards please?!
I’ll leave with a quote from the book that really stuck with me. “Once you’ve let it into your heart, even a little bit, you’re left stuck loving it forever” which just sums up my love for all of Cressida’s books and the Cream Tea Cafe series. I could read and reread them forever and I endeavour to have ALL of her books on my shelf one day.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Opening this book was like wrapping yourself in the warmest and cosiest of blankets, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of joy and loosing yourself in love and drama for a few hours. It was the most perfect escape from the world for a bit and I absolutely adored it.
Loved the plot. Loved the story. Liam is adorable. Max was perfect. And I also have to agree with Ollie and say Northanger Abbey is such an underrated Austen and wholeheartedly approve of the name of her adorable chocolate lab!
The development between Max and Ollie was a pure joy to read and the setting in the bookshop made for really enjoyable reading. I was so behind Ollie and her new job in the bookshop with Thea and Becky and I loved the plotting and planning that went on in bringing custom and events to the shop. I’m so sad to have finished it! More books in this series forever and onwards please?!
I’ll leave with a quote from the book that really stuck with me. “Once you’ve let it into your heart, even a little bit, you’re left stuck loving it forever” which just sums up my love for all of Cressida’s books and the Cream Tea Cafe series. I could read and reread them forever and I endeavour to have ALL of her books on my shelf one day.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
May 3, 2023
This is an easy flowing chick lit read. It follows a few months of Ollie's life as she moves from London to Cornwall.
The book has a lot of obvious writing - there are only two male characters in the novel, one is old, arthritic Liam and the other is the dashingly handsome and wonderfully friendly Max who owns the coffee shop. It is pretty clear from the introduction of Max that Ollie and Max are going to fall in love. Also, Ollie gets a job at the local book shop as an event planner and is worried about being successful - again it's pretty obvious in this sort of book that she will be. I don't mind the glaringly obvious, sometimes it's nice to have that simplicity.
But McLaughlin takes the book to another level by adding a little mystery along the way. There are some local legends that sound a little spooky - the print of a hand in a rock, and the sounds of war at the castle ruins, and this element of the story I found surprising and unpredictable. I did guess the mystery around them though!
In terms of characters, there are quite a few that don't have much depth - like Lizzie and Meredith. I thought Becky was overly spiteful and no real reason was given for her attitude - I wouldn't be so quick to forgive!! When Maisie was first introduced she sounded like a friend of Ollie's but then she is forgotten in virtually the rest of the book. Also I think Beryan is mentioned a lot but yet is never physically present in the book. Seems a shame to talk about a character quite a few times but the reader never meets them.
Grammatically I spotted no mistakes - which isn't a surprise as the book's published by Harper Collins.
So to summarise I enjoyed the story, I liked the flow, but less characters and more depth would have been nice!
The book has a lot of obvious writing - there are only two male characters in the novel, one is old, arthritic Liam and the other is the dashingly handsome and wonderfully friendly Max who owns the coffee shop. It is pretty clear from the introduction of Max that Ollie and Max are going to fall in love. Also, Ollie gets a job at the local book shop as an event planner and is worried about being successful - again it's pretty obvious in this sort of book that she will be. I don't mind the glaringly obvious, sometimes it's nice to have that simplicity.
But McLaughlin takes the book to another level by adding a little mystery along the way. There are some local legends that sound a little spooky - the print of a hand in a rock, and the sounds of war at the castle ruins, and this element of the story I found surprising and unpredictable. I did guess the mystery around them though!
In terms of characters, there are quite a few that don't have much depth - like Lizzie and Meredith. I thought Becky was overly spiteful and no real reason was given for her attitude - I wouldn't be so quick to forgive!! When Maisie was first introduced she sounded like a friend of Ollie's but then she is forgotten in virtually the rest of the book. Also I think Beryan is mentioned a lot but yet is never physically present in the book. Seems a shame to talk about a character quite a few times but the reader never meets them.
Grammatically I spotted no mistakes - which isn't a surprise as the book's published by Harper Collins.
So to summarise I enjoyed the story, I liked the flow, but less characters and more depth would have been nice!
October 28, 2022
Wow! I didn't know what to expect when I started this book having never read any of the other Cornish Cream Tea books but I can say I absolutely loved it.
Losing myself in this book felt like I was huddled in a super soft and cosy blanket with a hot chocolate filling myself with all the love, mystery and drama this book could give me.
This story was perfect for this time of year as we travelled through halloween and Christmas. I loved the Bookshop setting, what I wouldn't give to work in that Bookshop with Thea, Becky and Ollie.
The book is part of a series but I had no problems reading it as a standalone it flowed beautifully and kept me interested all the way to the very end.
Thank you to RandomHouseTours for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Losing myself in this book felt like I was huddled in a super soft and cosy blanket with a hot chocolate filling myself with all the love, mystery and drama this book could give me.
This story was perfect for this time of year as we travelled through halloween and Christmas. I loved the Bookshop setting, what I wouldn't give to work in that Bookshop with Thea, Becky and Ollie.
The book is part of a series but I had no problems reading it as a standalone it flowed beautifully and kept me interested all the way to the very end.
Thank you to RandomHouseTours for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 10, 2022
Ollie Spencer is starting her new job at A New Chapter bookshop, and with it her new life in the quaint seaside town of Port Karadow in Cornwall.
Filled with ideas and enthusiasm to make the bookshops first Christmas one to remember, Ollie can’t wait to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. But it soon becomes clear that her dreams might be too big for the little town and the people in it.
Dismayed that she might fail, Ollie turns to café owner Max to help her turn her distress into success. Together can they put the sparkle into Christmas?
It is always a joy to be back in Cressida McLaughlin’s Cornwall. This book is a fab addition to an already excellent series.
As a Cornish local I can tell the author has spent a lot of time in the county, as it shines through in her writing that she has done her research. Filled with wonderful and accurate descriptions of the rigged coastline and the real sense of community in the small towns depicted.
Ollie was a likeable protagonist; her enthusiasm and sunny demeanour was easy to read and very enjoyable. It was also nice to catch up with characters from previous instalments such as Thea and Meredith, as well as get to know Max better.
If you’re looking for a Christmas book to snuggle up with and get you into the spirit, then look no further. Although seventh in as series, this book could easily be read as a standalone. However, I do thoroughly recommend starting at the beginning, you won’t regret it!
* Thanks to HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley, for this ARC *
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Filled with ideas and enthusiasm to make the bookshops first Christmas one to remember, Ollie can’t wait to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. But it soon becomes clear that her dreams might be too big for the little town and the people in it.
Dismayed that she might fail, Ollie turns to café owner Max to help her turn her distress into success. Together can they put the sparkle into Christmas?
It is always a joy to be back in Cressida McLaughlin’s Cornwall. This book is a fab addition to an already excellent series.
As a Cornish local I can tell the author has spent a lot of time in the county, as it shines through in her writing that she has done her research. Filled with wonderful and accurate descriptions of the rigged coastline and the real sense of community in the small towns depicted.
Ollie was a likeable protagonist; her enthusiasm and sunny demeanour was easy to read and very enjoyable. It was also nice to catch up with characters from previous instalments such as Thea and Meredith, as well as get to know Max better.
If you’re looking for a Christmas book to snuggle up with and get you into the spirit, then look no further. Although seventh in as series, this book could easily be read as a standalone. However, I do thoroughly recommend starting at the beginning, you won’t regret it!
* Thanks to HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley, for this ARC *
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November 3, 2022
Another book in this series was enough to make me put it straight to the top of my TBR! It was great to revisit Port Karadow and to see the preparations all around as Halloween and then Christmas approached. Ollie is a lovely character and a great addition to the cast of characters who come and go through these stories. Desperate to create a good impression and to make a success of her new life in Cornwall at the bookshop, not everything goes to plan and her enthusiasm, at times, begins to falter. This is where Max comes along and the chemistry between them sets the story alight. I loved the story, the characters, all the festive touches, the fact that it was set around the bookshop…. A super festive read.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book
November 7, 2022
Reading a book from an author whose previous booked you've loved is always a fab experience and I found reading the Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop felt like getting a warm hug, comforting and cosy. It's such fun when the story references other stories the author has previously written , it always makes me smile, and this story has a main protagonist who is a Christmas freak - just like me - and works in a bookshop ......let's face it , it would have been surprising if I didn't enjoy the book! A perfect start to your festive reading , the Cornish Cream Tea Bookshop will definitely get you in the mood for all things Christmas.
November 24, 2022
I adored this cosy festive read.
This is the seventh book within the cream tea series and although I have the majority of them on my shelf, this was my first time reading one and I felt that this didn't matter, as the book could be read as a stand alone novel.
I really enjoyed the community feel of this story and this could especially be felt within the book shop. The way the community pulls together in regards to the events was lovely and made the Cornish town seem so idyllic.
How perfect does A New Chapter sound? I found myself picturing sitting on the sofa upstairs with a hot chocolate and picking a new book off the shelf and diving straight in.
I loved Ollie's character. After everything she had been through, she never gave up despite many hurdles and was such a strong focused woman and I really liked how everything worked out for her, especially with Max who sounds like a dream 😍.
The added twist in the book in regards to the mystery author I did see coming, but the way in which it was revealed was done brilliantly and again reinforced the community aspect of the book.
This was such a perfect read to get you in the Christmas mood and I look forward to visiting the Cornish series again soon.
This is the seventh book within the cream tea series and although I have the majority of them on my shelf, this was my first time reading one and I felt that this didn't matter, as the book could be read as a stand alone novel.
I really enjoyed the community feel of this story and this could especially be felt within the book shop. The way the community pulls together in regards to the events was lovely and made the Cornish town seem so idyllic.
How perfect does A New Chapter sound? I found myself picturing sitting on the sofa upstairs with a hot chocolate and picking a new book off the shelf and diving straight in.
I loved Ollie's character. After everything she had been through, she never gave up despite many hurdles and was such a strong focused woman and I really liked how everything worked out for her, especially with Max who sounds like a dream 😍.
The added twist in the book in regards to the mystery author I did see coming, but the way in which it was revealed was done brilliantly and again reinforced the community aspect of the book.
This was such a perfect read to get you in the Christmas mood and I look forward to visiting the Cornish series again soon.
November 11, 2022
This is a fun addition to the Cornish Cream Tea series. The main character in this one is a woman who has moved to Cornwall from London after an injury kept her out of work long enough to damage her career at a London bookstore and break up her romance. Her new setting is pretty idyllic and the romance had the advantage (to me) that it was a nice slow burn romance between two nice people. There was no particular conflict other than a health scare. And the bookstore setting was nice too. There are cameos from characters in other books in this series.
August 2, 2023
I listened to this on audiobook.
I’m absolutely loving this series of books situated in Cornwall, so much so that I wish I was staying there.
Anyway in this story we meet Ollie and Max, get to know them and their backgrounds, seeing how they interact with each other and ultimately get together and the obstacles that come part and parcel with that. I really enjoyed their story, lots of drama and another more pets to fall in love with.
As with previous books from the series we get reacquainted with some previous characters, so very lovely to see them again.
I’m absolutely loving this series of books situated in Cornwall, so much so that I wish I was staying there.
Anyway in this story we meet Ollie and Max, get to know them and their backgrounds, seeing how they interact with each other and ultimately get together and the obstacles that come part and parcel with that. I really enjoyed their story, lots of drama and another more pets to fall in love with.
As with previous books from the series we get reacquainted with some previous characters, so very lovely to see them again.
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