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The Beach Bar
Pedro’s bar in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol is a hotspot for holidaymakers enjoying sun, sea, sand and fun. For years it has been run by local woman Maria who rarely sees the Irish owner from one summer to the next. But things are about to change.
Now Maria has an assistant, Kevin Joyce from Galway. He is escaping the ‘trap’ of his family’s business in favour of working in the sun, and he’s not the only one. Maria had better get ready because more Irish are about to touch down in this seaside paradise.
Emma Dunne, a successful businesswoman from Dublin, spent her twenties running her father’s printing company with plenty of hard work but little fun. Now she has a reason to celebrate as she takes over the ownership of Pedro’s Bar, but has she been given a poisoned chalice? Mark Chambers, a successful advertising executive, has come to Spain to overcome a personal tragedy and find a reason to enjoy life again. And Claire Greene who, much to the chagrin of her mother, passed over a legal career to sell Spanish property, has some unfinished business to deal with.
Each hopes Fuengirola will give them a new lease of life, but they soon get more than they bargained for.
Now Maria has an assistant, Kevin Joyce from Galway. He is escaping the ‘trap’ of his family’s business in favour of working in the sun, and he’s not the only one. Maria had better get ready because more Irish are about to touch down in this seaside paradise.
Emma Dunne, a successful businesswoman from Dublin, spent her twenties running her father’s printing company with plenty of hard work but little fun. Now she has a reason to celebrate as she takes over the ownership of Pedro’s Bar, but has she been given a poisoned chalice? Mark Chambers, a successful advertising executive, has come to Spain to overcome a personal tragedy and find a reason to enjoy life again. And Claire Greene who, much to the chagrin of her mother, passed over a legal career to sell Spanish property, has some unfinished business to deal with.
Each hopes Fuengirola will give them a new lease of life, but they soon get more than they bargained for.
522 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 12, 2020
So through this book I traveled to Dublin and Spain! Fingers crossed we all get to travel across the pond for real one day! Kate McCabe's novel is a good escape to sunny Spain. A feel good story!
August 24, 2020
Disappointing
This book reads like the second draft of a first novel: spelling, grammar and punctuation are fine, but the author has not learned the basics of novel writing. This is all telling, not showing: the author tells us what happened but never puts us in the middle of the action. And characters are introduced, then drop completely out of sight for tens of pages, so that when they reappear we do not remember them. Interesting characters and decent plotting kept me from giving this just one star. This author definitely shows promise. It is a shame, IMHO ,that this was rushed to print without being seriously revised and polished. Some heavy-duty writing classes and/or comprehensive editing would have made a lot of difference.
This book reads like the second draft of a first novel: spelling, grammar and punctuation are fine, but the author has not learned the basics of novel writing. This is all telling, not showing: the author tells us what happened but never puts us in the middle of the action. And characters are introduced, then drop completely out of sight for tens of pages, so that when they reappear we do not remember them. Interesting characters and decent plotting kept me from giving this just one star. This author definitely shows promise. It is a shame, IMHO ,that this was rushed to print without being seriously revised and polished. Some heavy-duty writing classes and/or comprehensive editing would have made a lot of difference.
April 6, 2012
The Beach Bar is the third of Kate McCabe's novels that I've read, and I've enjoyed every one of them. Another great author from Poolbeg who writes charming, warm stories about real and likeable characters.
Set in sunny Spain, this story encaptures the sun, the sea and the romance that makes a great holiday read (although I read this during the cold, wet weather over the past week!).
Set in sunny Spain, this story encaptures the sun, the sea and the romance that makes a great holiday read (although I read this during the cold, wet weather over the past week!).
August 29, 2020
I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. Set in my favourite location. Lovely characters all meet in one way or another. I found in the beginning it spent so much time in one character that by the time they all came together I’d forgotten who was who.
Just made me want to pack up and head off there
Just made me want to pack up and head off there
June 27, 2021
This book is not my genre. I picked it as I saw the word 'Spain' in the synopsis and didn't realise it was not for me.
It's about four beautiful, perfect people, somehow connected to a beach bar in a Disney-esque version of a Spainish beachtown at the Costa del Sol. It's a simple, sugar sweet, story without any action but with a predictable happy end.
It's about four beautiful, perfect people, somehow connected to a beach bar in a Disney-esque version of a Spainish beachtown at the Costa del Sol. It's a simple, sugar sweet, story without any action but with a predictable happy end.
August 30, 2020
Heartwarming!
Through the individual lives of several characters from Ireland, the reader shares their experiences of love, loss, family, success, failure and tragedy. These individuals for various reasons decide holiday in Costa Del Sol. There they find themselves, each other, and healing at Pedro’s Bar.
Through the individual lives of several characters from Ireland, the reader shares their experiences of love, loss, family, success, failure and tragedy. These individuals for various reasons decide holiday in Costa Del Sol. There they find themselves, each other, and healing at Pedro’s Bar.
August 25, 2020
Vacation
During this terrible year when we are staying home and not seeing and doing the things we would like this book is a perfect read. It’s like a vacation in a book. Had me dreaming of warm sunny beaches
During this terrible year when we are staying home and not seeing and doing the things we would like this book is a perfect read. It’s like a vacation in a book. Had me dreaming of warm sunny beaches
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August 29, 2014Just finished reading The Beach Bar... Was just okay
June 22, 2021
The Beach Bar by Kate McCabe is the story for new beginnings as the lives of four people converge on Fuengirola on the Costa de Sol is a Spanish hotspot on the Mediterranean coast. Vacationers come to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand. Pedro’s Bar has been managed by Maria, a local woman, who rarely sees the Irish owner, but things are about to change. Kevin Joyce from Galway is sent to become Maria’s assistant. He comes to Fuengirola to escape the trap he calls the family business. Emma Dunne, a successful businesswoman from Dublin, has spent her twenties running her family’s printing company. All hard work and no fun for Emma. Until she has been given the chance to take over ownership of Pedro’s Bar. Mark Chambers comes to overcome a personal tragedy and joy in his life. Claire Greene has unfinished business to deal with. Will the bar be all fun in the sun? Or will it be just another “all work and no play” situation?
The premise of The Beach Bar intrigued me, unfortunately it fell flat from the opening chapter. I was bored from the get go with so much exposition and very little action. The author spends chapters telling us the backstory of each character before having them met at Pedro’s Bar. Why give all that information up front? Why not gradually reveal the motivations of each character as the story progresses? By the time the characters get to the bar, I was so overwhelmed with their individual stories that I was exhausted and had no energy to see how their stories would intertwine, if they did at all. While the descriptions of the locations were beautiful, but the story didn’t have any kind of flow and the ending was so abrupt, I expected this book to be a part of a series, which it is not. I do not recommend The Beach Bar.
The Beach Bar is available in paperback and eBook.
The premise of The Beach Bar intrigued me, unfortunately it fell flat from the opening chapter. I was bored from the get go with so much exposition and very little action. The author spends chapters telling us the backstory of each character before having them met at Pedro’s Bar. Why give all that information up front? Why not gradually reveal the motivations of each character as the story progresses? By the time the characters get to the bar, I was so overwhelmed with their individual stories that I was exhausted and had no energy to see how their stories would intertwine, if they did at all. While the descriptions of the locations were beautiful, but the story didn’t have any kind of flow and the ending was so abrupt, I expected this book to be a part of a series, which it is not. I do not recommend The Beach Bar.
The Beach Bar is available in paperback and eBook.
May 8, 2026
Too much time is spent introducing each new character; we get their entire life history and they are set up for the story and then in the next chapter we get another person's entire life history, then another... The better way would be a short few paragraphs introducing each person, and let them tell their story to someone else once they arrive in Spain. Show, don't tell, who they are and were.
A motley crew of people, mostly Irish, arrive to work at / eat at / own a ramshackle bar on a beach in a Spanish resort town. While there they meet, make friends, and make decisions.
This is a somewhat more detailed read than a Maeve Binchy but otherwise resembles that Irish storyteller's works.
When you work in a bar, do you start telling a newly arrived tourist all about the new owner whom you don't even know? And what the business state of the premises is? When you meet a holidaying Irish business person like yourself, do you suddenly tell him all about your finances and business quandaries? I think the answer would be no to both. The wise answer.
I like that women are shown as successful and capable, while some women are quite dotty and fun-loving but good-hearted. There is a nice spread of characters and some life advice.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review. I would read more by this author.
A motley crew of people, mostly Irish, arrive to work at / eat at / own a ramshackle bar on a beach in a Spanish resort town. While there they meet, make friends, and make decisions.
This is a somewhat more detailed read than a Maeve Binchy but otherwise resembles that Irish storyteller's works.
When you work in a bar, do you start telling a newly arrived tourist all about the new owner whom you don't even know? And what the business state of the premises is? When you meet a holidaying Irish business person like yourself, do you suddenly tell him all about your finances and business quandaries? I think the answer would be no to both. The wise answer.
I like that women are shown as successful and capable, while some women are quite dotty and fun-loving but good-hearted. There is a nice spread of characters and some life advice.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review. I would read more by this author.
June 6, 2022
I was somewhat disappointed in this book …
Each character was introduced in the form of a short story. This short story spans a full chapter, and you don’t get to hear about the characters again until they start arriving in Spain – no problem there, however, it seemed like the book was taking forever to kick into gear.
It had the makings of a great book: 4 successful people from Ireland, each facing their own challenges, head off to Spain for a holiday to heal and recharge. They all travel on the same day and arrive within minutes of each other (almost sounds like the opening scenes from The Best Marigold Hotel …)
The book flatlined throughout but I must admit I enjoyed the last few paragraphs of the final chapter. There was something sweet that happened right at the end – a bit cliché, but sweet.
The book didn’t read like a “story” – it felt like I was reading an instruction manual or a checklist in paragraph form. In my own words now - “He walked into the room and did this. Next, he did that … And after that, he did the other thing.”
The book seemed better halfway through, or maybe I started ignoring the “checklist paragraphs”, but I am disappointed by the mistakes in the book. I don’t think the proofreader and/or publisher did this book any justice.
Each character was introduced in the form of a short story. This short story spans a full chapter, and you don’t get to hear about the characters again until they start arriving in Spain – no problem there, however, it seemed like the book was taking forever to kick into gear.
It had the makings of a great book: 4 successful people from Ireland, each facing their own challenges, head off to Spain for a holiday to heal and recharge. They all travel on the same day and arrive within minutes of each other (almost sounds like the opening scenes from The Best Marigold Hotel …)
The book flatlined throughout but I must admit I enjoyed the last few paragraphs of the final chapter. There was something sweet that happened right at the end – a bit cliché, but sweet.
The book didn’t read like a “story” – it felt like I was reading an instruction manual or a checklist in paragraph form. In my own words now - “He walked into the room and did this. Next, he did that … And after that, he did the other thing.”
The book seemed better halfway through, or maybe I started ignoring the “checklist paragraphs”, but I am disappointed by the mistakes in the book. I don’t think the proofreader and/or publisher did this book any justice.
October 3, 2020
I ordered this book because it took place in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, and I had vacationed in that area years ago. It didn't disappoint as far as the descriptions of that town, as well as Malaga, Marbella and Mijas, all places I had visited. As a matter of fact, it made me fantasize about moving there and living a carefree life on the beach.
The only reason I removed one star was that the storyline was predictable and it was also a bit long and too descriptive for my liking. I didn't need to know what every character wore each day. But it was an enjoyable beach read if you're not looking for something too deep.
The only reason I removed one star was that the storyline was predictable and it was also a bit long and too descriptive for my liking. I didn't need to know what every character wore each day. But it was an enjoyable beach read if you're not looking for something too deep.
September 25, 2019
Moderately engaging
Good summer read. The author has her own style of writing which goes into detail about all the characters in the story. They all come together at Pedro’s Bar on the Costa del Sol. I was interested in this location because we spent some time in Malaga several years ago. It’s a wonderful destination. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in light reading.
Good summer read. The author has her own style of writing which goes into detail about all the characters in the story. They all come together at Pedro’s Bar on the Costa del Sol. I was interested in this location because we spent some time in Malaga several years ago. It’s a wonderful destination. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in light reading.
September 4, 2020
Perfect escape
This is the story of 4 people,all Irish, who find themselves all in the same place in Spain at the same time. It's a really well told story and had me hooked right up to the last chapter. It's the perfect read for a wet winter, or in my case the almost end of a lockdown summer with no chance of a beach escape.
The story really engaged me and more than once I looked up in suprise to see my own back garden not a warm beach in the Spanish Costas.
This is the story of 4 people,all Irish, who find themselves all in the same place in Spain at the same time. It's a really well told story and had me hooked right up to the last chapter. It's the perfect read for a wet winter, or in my case the almost end of a lockdown summer with no chance of a beach escape.
The story really engaged me and more than once I looked up in suprise to see my own back garden not a warm beach in the Spanish Costas.
October 5, 2020
This book made me feel like I was on a tropical vacation, which is exactly what I needed right now, since travel isn’t an option due to COVID. This book follows several characters, all which have a connection in some sort to Pedro’s Bar in sunny & quaint Fuengirola. Emma & Claire are both admirable girl bosses, and their male counterparts have charming personalities. This was an easy, heartwarming read
August 28, 2020
Not what I expected
These characters are not all that interesting nor are their stories. The book club was more interesting than the actual novel. Too much description about who these people are instead of dialogue to reveal their stories became wordy tome without much heart. A real disappointment! I had hoped for more.
These characters are not all that interesting nor are their stories. The book club was more interesting than the actual novel. Too much description about who these people are instead of dialogue to reveal their stories became wordy tome without much heart. A real disappointment! I had hoped for more.
September 4, 2020
Beach time
This story was not just a romance but a mystery with many twists and turns. The characters were all believable with many situations being resolved. They were characters from all walks of life. The author did a good job in making you visualize the beautiful coast of Spain!
This story was not just a romance but a mystery with many twists and turns. The characters were all believable with many situations being resolved. They were characters from all walks of life. The author did a good job in making you visualize the beautiful coast of Spain!
October 19, 2020
Interesting Characters
I liked the author’s character development and her way of weaving the lives of these characters into an interesting story. Some of the description didn’t further the storyline and seemed to be simply adding words, but if you’d like to read about an escape to the beautiful Costa del Sol this is a good book for you with a upbeat ending.
I liked the author’s character development and her way of weaving the lives of these characters into an interesting story. Some of the description didn’t further the storyline and seemed to be simply adding words, but if you’d like to read about an escape to the beautiful Costa del Sol this is a good book for you with a upbeat ending.
September 1, 2020
Fun, quirky and realistic read, I loved the characters and how they evolved during the story. I'm now also totally set on making a trip to the South of Spain the moment I get out of our county's Lockdown. I can't wait for the next book from Kate McGabe
September 26, 2020
Hard to get started
I’m use to books having a lot of characters. But this book goes into so much detail on each one, before introducing the next character, that it’s hard to remember who is who. The plot was good.
I’m use to books having a lot of characters. But this book goes into so much detail on each one, before introducing the next character, that it’s hard to remember who is who. The plot was good.
October 30, 2020
Very easy read with great characters
Strong women characters starting out in the real world and making life decisions that didn't follow their original plans. Perfect read to while away a rainy day.
Strong women characters starting out in the real world and making life decisions that didn't follow their original plans. Perfect read to while away a rainy day.
November 6, 2022
Lovely stories, uplifting themes.
Anyone wishing to escape the dreary present news of conflicting political messages and idiot leaders dropping bombs will have a fine time following the ups and downs of McCabe’s characters.
Anyone wishing to escape the dreary present news of conflicting political messages and idiot leaders dropping bombs will have a fine time following the ups and downs of McCabe’s characters.
August 25, 2020
To many cooks
To many characters. I got lost switching between all the characters and subplots. The book just didnt flow well.
Ending was to predictable
To many characters. I got lost switching between all the characters and subplots. The book just didnt flow well.
Ending was to predictable
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August 27, 2020Read 8/20
August 31, 2020
Wonderful setting
A lot of interesting and caring people come together on the beautiful Costa del Sol. A very happy and satisfying ending.
A lot of interesting and caring people come together on the beautiful Costa del Sol. A very happy and satisfying ending.
August 31, 2020
Well written nice light story. Predictable but enjoyable.
September 4, 2020
An Enchanting holiday in Spain
The novel carries you away from today’s troubles to delighted retreat to a sunny coastal life where everything works out.
The novel carries you away from today’s troubles to delighted retreat to a sunny coastal life where everything works out.
September 11, 2020
Girlonfire
Well written and it held my attention, although I did skip through a lot of unnecessary stuff like showers and sunbathing, etc.
Well written and it held my attention, although I did skip through a lot of unnecessary stuff like showers and sunbathing, etc.
Read
September 11, 2020Good book
I really enjoyed the story ,very joyful and uplifting,loved the characters ,it was lovely seeing their characters unfold throughout it
I really enjoyed the story ,very joyful and uplifting,loved the characters ,it was lovely seeing their characters unfold throughout it
September 13, 2020
Book Bub, fun read about 6 people who become good friends because of a bar on the coast of Spain
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews