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Spring at The Cornish Garden Café
Come to Cornwall and spend some time at the charming Cornish Garden Café. Surrounded by a beautiful, peaceful garden, the café is a haven at any time of the year. Breathe in the clean sea air, listen to the waves crashing against the shore and relax while you sip a refreshing drink and enjoy a tasty bite to eat…
Ellie Cordwell seeks refuge with her grandmother, Pearl, in Cornwall after a breakup and the failure of her acting career. Ellie is burnt out and in need of rest and recuperation before she can figure out what comes next.
Successful entrepreneur, Jasper Holmes, is busy with work and raising his two young children. He’s gone through his fair share of heartbreak and has made a vow to stay single until his children are grown. In fact, he can’t get his head around the thought of ever dating again.
Not one to be complacent, Ellie rolls up her sleeves and helps her grandmother out at the café, in its stunning location near the beach. It’s very different to her life in London and she’s surprised to find herself enjoying being back in the village she once called home.
Jasper finds new arrival Ellie as refreshing as the sea air, but friendship is all he’s interested in. His heart is fragile, and he can’t risk it again because he has to be strong for his children.
As the spring flowers bloom and the air grows warmer with the promise of summer, something blossoms between Ellie and Jasper. Will they allow their feelings to grow like the flowers in the garden or will they part ways as the summer waves roll in?
Ellie Cordwell seeks refuge with her grandmother, Pearl, in Cornwall after a breakup and the failure of her acting career. Ellie is burnt out and in need of rest and recuperation before she can figure out what comes next.
Successful entrepreneur, Jasper Holmes, is busy with work and raising his two young children. He’s gone through his fair share of heartbreak and has made a vow to stay single until his children are grown. In fact, he can’t get his head around the thought of ever dating again.
Not one to be complacent, Ellie rolls up her sleeves and helps her grandmother out at the café, in its stunning location near the beach. It’s very different to her life in London and she’s surprised to find herself enjoying being back in the village she once called home.
Jasper finds new arrival Ellie as refreshing as the sea air, but friendship is all he’s interested in. His heart is fragile, and he can’t risk it again because he has to be strong for his children.
As the spring flowers bloom and the air grows warmer with the promise of summer, something blossoms between Ellie and Jasper. Will they allow their feelings to grow like the flowers in the garden or will they part ways as the summer waves roll in?
- GenresRomance
226 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2025
381 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Griffiths
49 books135 followersRachel Griffiths is an author, wife, mother, Earl Grey tea drinker, gin enthusiast, dog walker and fan of the afternoon nap. She loves to read, write and spend time with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 25, 2025
Just a simple and sweet romance when the couple is mature but need to heal first for their past for be in the relationship. Ellie lost their main goal in her life, she decides retorn to Cornowall for find the
meaning. Jasper lost his wife in an tragic accident, he is trying to be strong for his children but life was not easy to him. When their lifes collied sparks fly and they have to overcome their fears to falling in love again.
The cornish garden café seems like a lovely place, and Pearl is just an wise woman always ready to help. Her conection with Ellie was one of the best things about this story. Also the kids and the dog really made the book such a cozy romance.
This is the second book that I participate to the readthon organized by @Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥(user/show/69106439-virginia-ronan-herondale).
meaning. Jasper lost his wife in an tragic accident, he is trying to be strong for his children but life was not easy to him. When their lifes collied sparks fly and they have to overcome their fears to falling in love again.
The cornish garden café seems like a lovely place, and Pearl is just an wise woman always ready to help. Her conection with Ellie was one of the best things about this story. Also the kids and the dog really made the book such a cozy romance.
This is the second book that I participate to the readthon organized by @Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥(user/show/69106439-virginia-ronan-herondale).
March 8, 2025
A really lovely story
I absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last. I felt for Jasper and his children, and Ellie. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I absolutely loved this book from the first page to the last. I felt for Jasper and his children, and Ellie. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 4, 2025
The start of a new series and what a lovely introduction to The Cornish Garden Cafe and the local community.
Ellie and Jasper were made for each other and I was delighted they got together. Looking forward to reading more of this delightful series.
Ellie and Jasper were made for each other and I was delighted they got together. Looking forward to reading more of this delightful series.
February 28, 2026
Ellie had always thought she wanted to be an actor. After a disastrous audition and being effectively dumped by her boyfriend she decides to move back to Cornwall, the place where she grew up with her gran. Widower and father of two Jasper is struggling with his grief. He doesn’t let anyone in, especially a woman, but when he meets Ellie they both find something in each other which helps them heal. - A sweet, clean romance. But I just felt it never really went anywhere. Maybe I expected too much but that’s on me. But I did have a few problems with the way it was written….
The writer had a tendency to waffle. She went on & on about certain things which I didn’t feel was needed. Also yes, Ellie’s gran is in good shape, I get it. There was no need to keep on mentioning it over & over. I could say the same about Jasper, if I read once that he wasn’t interested in romance then I read it a hundred times. Why the need to keep reiterating the same feelings all the time? The author also seemed to have a thing about mortality, not living forever and/or ageing.
And call me a cynic but when characters in books keep pitying themselves it gets my back up. Cos I lost count of the times I read ‘this is foolish of me’, ‘he doesn’t feel that way’ and ‘he can’t possible be interested in me’, ad nauseam… Both characters in this book are apparently, gorgeous so why the need for such self doubt?
And when it came to describing her characters, well it was quite hit & miss. I had Jasper’s looks described a lot and yet it took until chapter 15 before I knew Ellie had black hair! She also got a name wrong. She mixed up two of her main male characters.
So, a nice story spoilt for me by some average writing.
The writer had a tendency to waffle. She went on & on about certain things which I didn’t feel was needed. Also yes, Ellie’s gran is in good shape, I get it. There was no need to keep on mentioning it over & over. I could say the same about Jasper, if I read once that he wasn’t interested in romance then I read it a hundred times. Why the need to keep reiterating the same feelings all the time? The author also seemed to have a thing about mortality, not living forever and/or ageing.
And call me a cynic but when characters in books keep pitying themselves it gets my back up. Cos I lost count of the times I read ‘this is foolish of me’, ‘he doesn’t feel that way’ and ‘he can’t possible be interested in me’, ad nauseam… Both characters in this book are apparently, gorgeous so why the need for such self doubt?
And when it came to describing her characters, well it was quite hit & miss. I had Jasper’s looks described a lot and yet it took until chapter 15 before I knew Ellie had black hair! She also got a name wrong. She mixed up two of her main male characters.
So, a nice story spoilt for me by some average writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2025
This book has all of my favorite romance tropes - small town romance, single dad with adorable children, city girl jaded by the glitz and glamor… but sadly, the romance in this book itself fell short :(
I liked that Ellie and Jasper individually sorted out their adult problems, but as a couple, I felt like their romance was too… rushed, for lack of a better word. It would be nice if they had more meaningful conversations together. I kinda thought Jasper had more heart-to-heart with Pearl more than Ellie hahaha. It honestly felt insta love for me, and I craved for more interactions between Ellie and Jasper. I could have wanted more interactions between Alfie and Mabel and Ellie too, as we read how the children fell hopelessly in love with Ellie too.
I sometimes think the dialogues were a little off. We don’t normally hear conversations like that!
It was a cozy read, yes, but it lacked the big, warm hug I always looked for in small town, found family stories like these.
I liked that Ellie and Jasper individually sorted out their adult problems, but as a couple, I felt like their romance was too… rushed, for lack of a better word. It would be nice if they had more meaningful conversations together. I kinda thought Jasper had more heart-to-heart with Pearl more than Ellie hahaha. It honestly felt insta love for me, and I craved for more interactions between Ellie and Jasper. I could have wanted more interactions between Alfie and Mabel and Ellie too, as we read how the children fell hopelessly in love with Ellie too.
I sometimes think the dialogues were a little off. We don’t normally hear conversations like that!
It was a cozy read, yes, but it lacked the big, warm hug I always looked for in small town, found family stories like these.
May 8, 2025
Great Heartwarming story
Another excellent easy to read thoroughly enjoyable read by Rachel.
I always find that when I pick up a book by Rachel they are very uplifting as I start reading. Not sure wether it's the characters, the story the way she writes, most possibly its all of them , I feel good in reading the story and how it develops/unfolds/ends.
The character's are relatable and could easily be someone you know or even yourself.
This book is the first in a series and certainly did not dissapoint and as such I've ordered/pre-ordered the others that have been released to date.
Rachel great story again -Thank you !
To anyone new to Rachel Griffiths - try this and others that she has written - they are Excellent !!!
Another excellent easy to read thoroughly enjoyable read by Rachel.
I always find that when I pick up a book by Rachel they are very uplifting as I start reading. Not sure wether it's the characters, the story the way she writes, most possibly its all of them , I feel good in reading the story and how it develops/unfolds/ends.
The character's are relatable and could easily be someone you know or even yourself.
This book is the first in a series and certainly did not dissapoint and as such I've ordered/pre-ordered the others that have been released to date.
Rachel great story again -Thank you !
To anyone new to Rachel Griffiths - try this and others that she has written - they are Excellent !!!
June 6, 2025
Ellie to be or not to be
Poor Ellie is trying so hard to get this audition right but didnt know she was meant to be doing a tap dancing g routine. Ellie does Herbert but it all goes wrong then she gets home to find her partner of 6 years is off traveling the world to find himself. Ellie goes back home to Cornwall to stay with her gran and decide what she wants to do with her life now. I won't spoil anything else. Just read this book it's a good read.
Poor Ellie is trying so hard to get this audition right but didnt know she was meant to be doing a tap dancing g routine. Ellie does Herbert but it all goes wrong then she gets home to find her partner of 6 years is off traveling the world to find himself. Ellie goes back home to Cornwall to stay with her gran and decide what she wants to do with her life now. I won't spoil anything else. Just read this book it's a good read.
May 5, 2025
Heartwarming
Loved reading about Ellie and how she started life again in Cornwall after her acting career didn't work out. Once I started to read this book I found it hard to put down. Thank you Rachel for another fabulous story. Looking forward to reading more about the Cornish Garden Cafe the lives of Ellie and Jasper.
Loved reading about Ellie and how she started life again in Cornwall after her acting career didn't work out. Once I started to read this book I found it hard to put down. Thank you Rachel for another fabulous story. Looking forward to reading more about the Cornish Garden Cafe the lives of Ellie and Jasper.
May 13, 2025
I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with these characters as quickly as I did but Ellie and Jasper were so beautifully written and I loved seeing how caring Jasper was towards his young children, and how lovely Ellie’s grandmother was - it was really nice to read about Ellie’s future in Cornwall, and I’m excited to read more by this author!
March 30, 2025
Lovely
This story was so beautifully sweet and romantic. Ellie and Jasper both had difficult pasts, but when they found each other, a new beginning started. Such a lovely and clean romance. It just gave me all the wonderful feelings of happiness.
This story was so beautifully sweet and romantic. Ellie and Jasper both had difficult pasts, but when they found each other, a new beginning started. Such a lovely and clean romance. It just gave me all the wonderful feelings of happiness.
March 1, 2025
Too much waffle and filler for me, not much happens.
March 12, 2025
Absolutely loved this new series in Cornwall with Ellie and Jasper a delightful read 📚
March 19, 2025
Brilliant
Love love.loved this story. It's beautiful and such a good read.A few parts where I laughed out loud too. You must read Ellie and Jaspers lovely story ..
Love love.loved this story. It's beautiful and such a good read.A few parts where I laughed out loud too. You must read Ellie and Jaspers lovely story ..
July 28, 2025
Lovely read
Enjoyed the story and was very enjoyable.
Characters and story was really good, and look forward to reading more .
Enjoyed the story and was very enjoyable.
Characters and story was really good, and look forward to reading more .
December 12, 2025
Spring at the Cornish garden cafe
Loved the story
I was so upset thinking Ellie was going back to London
Then all change, cancel that taxi
Loved this book
Loved the story
I was so upset thinking Ellie was going back to London
Then all change, cancel that taxi
Loved this book
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews