A Perfect Devon Summer

Brambleton

by Debbie Morrison

Will this summer change everything for Trish – and for Brambleton?Trish has spent years turning her beloved café-bookshop, Prosecco & Prose, into the social heart of Brambleton – until London developer Marcus Blackthorn arrives with plans for a sleek boutique hotel next door.

Handsome and confident, Marcus is certain he knows what’s best for Trish and Brambleton. His proposal splits the village, stirring wounds and firing up opinions.
When Brambleton’s anonymous new agony aunt weighs in, Trish is pushed out from the safety of her café counter into a summer of impossible decisions. Marcus may be infuriating, but he sees strengths in her she’s long forgotten, and his kindness unsettles her more than his hotel ever could. As tensions rise, should she defend her little kingdom from change… or dare to imagine something bigger?Escape to Brambleton for a story of love, laughter and new beginnings.Readers love the Brambleton series!
‘Heartwarming, emotional and full of community spirit. I couldn't put it down’ Amanda Prowse
‘An absolutely gorgeous page-turner. Wow, just wow!!’ Kirsty Whitlock
‘A fast-paced story that will lift your spirits’ Leanne Bookstagram
‘Full of community… a truly gorgeous read’ Splashes into Books
‘Sparkled with believability’ Helen Hollick
‘Light-hearted yet tinged with sadness’ Stacy WH
‘I’m so glad I took a chance on this author – I struck gold’ Mrs Bee
‘This book felt like getting a huge hug’ Yorkshire Carly

A Perfect Devon Summer is a cosy, feel-good summer romance filled with small-town, rural life charm, community spirit, and slow-burn and clean chemistry. Featuring grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity, and city meets country. Expect village gossip, secrets, and an anonymous agony aunt. A heart-warming tale of belonging, confidence and new beginnings – all set against the glorious Devon coast.
Perfect for fans of clean small-town romance, escapist summer reads, and binge-worthy village series with emotion, humour and heart.

Each Brambleton book is a complete standalone story – set in the same Devon village. These books can be read in any order. Start wherever you like.

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2026

About the author

Once upon a time, I was a perfectly respectable London professional — a chartered accountant with a law degree, a Blackberry (remember those?), and too many sensible shoes. Then common sense prevailed, romance called, and I swapped London’s Zone One for Devon’s zero signal. I still wonder if leaving the City was brave or simply plot research taken to a reckless extreme.

Now my “head office” is a polytunnel: no Wi-Fi, but plenty of fresh air and flourishing tomatoes. The plants photosynthesise while I draft havoc; technically off-grid, creatively on fire.

Meanwhile, the dogs run the editorial obstruction department. They possess zero publishing experience yet veto scenes with a single raised paw — their union insists on edible compensation only.

These days, I know the real price of life’s essentials: a good haircut, a great friend, and the joy of a proper night’s sleep.

I write love stories for grown-ups — warm, witty, stuffed with second chances and that peculiar dynamic where affection and exasperation create irresistible chemistry – for better for worse...

Think of my indie “publishing house” as one woman, no award-strewn empire, no two-legged staff — just me, two obstinate dogs, and a biscuit budget.

I’ve tried not writing. It didn’t go well so I need readers. Not many, just the excellent sort who laugh in the right places.

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Perfect Devon Summer by Debbie Morrison

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Will this summer change everything for Trish – and for Brambleton?

Trish has spent years turning her beloved café-bookshop, Prosecco & Prose, into the social heart of Brambleton – until London developer Charlie Blackthorn arrives with plans for a sleek boutique hotel next door.

Handsome and confident, Charlie is certain he knows what’s best for Trish and Brambleton. His proposal splits the village, stirring wounds and firing up opinions.

When Brambleton’s anonymous new agony aunt weighs in, Trish is pushed out from the safety of her café counter into a summer of impossible decisions. Charlie may be infuriating, but he sees strengths in her she’s long forgotten, and his kindness unsettles her more than his hotel ever could. As tensions rise, should she defend her little kingdom from change… or dare to imagine something bigger?

My Opinion

A Perfect Devon Summer is the fifth book in the Brambleton series but it can easily be read as a standalone. A quick and easy read with some relatable characters. With a charming writing style A Perfect Devon Summer was a great addition to the series.

Rating 4/5

[Pam Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers of this series will have met Trish before at Prosecco & Prose but you really get to know her better in this story. Her cafe and livelihood is under threat and she is resisting plans to develop the closed down village stores next door into a bistro hotel. Trish is beset with a dilemma, whether to enlarge her cafe herself and buy the building or withdraw and be adversely affected. Her father is very cautious about taking on risk and worried that she will take on too much.

However, you sense that there is more to Trish's feelings about the situation than she is letting on and so it transpires. Charlie who is bidding to take over next door is an interesting character who sees strengths in Trish and supports her as well as looking to the future for himself. The relationships and friendships in Brambleton add to the community feel as they support Trish, unaware of her reservations. Trish also has issues from the past to come to terms. This was an interesting story with likeable characters, some topical elements and a lovely sense of working together.

In short: putting the past to bed
Thanks to the publisher

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book hard to get into until I'd reached about half way through, then I couldn't put it down.

Set in Brambleton, this book is about Prosecco and Prose owner Trish, and a property developer, Charlie, who arrives who wants to buy the adjacent old Village Stores and turn it into a boutique hotel.

Originally run by Trish's Portuguese Father Manuel, he closed the stores after his wife died. No one really knew the reason why.

We meet some of the regular characters again in this book, ones who have featured in most, if not all of the books in this series. Ivy, Fred, Victor, Mabel and Margaret.

Whilst the books in this series are all standalone stories, the books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.

I will be downloading the next book, The Cottage at Brambleton Hall, once it's released in October 2026.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't think of a better place to visit in the summer months other than Brambleton.

The small town community is absolutely delightful, full of charming characters. It's a place where friendships are made and hearts are healed.

And the best part? Prosecco & Prose, the heart and soul of Brambleton. Books about books and bookshops are a no-brainer win for me.

Heartwarming, enjoyable and a pleasure to read.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish has her cafe/ bookstore to keep her busy. Then one day she finds a new face in the village. Who is this person and what plans does he have for the building next to hers?
This was a quick book. The village is made up of lovely people who care about each other. There’s a few surprises and some clean romance. It’s a perfect beach read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish has loved running Prosecco and Prose her cafe - bookshop and it’s become the heart of the village of Brambleton. Then Marcus Blackthorn arrives from London full of ideas to develop next door into a boutique hotel. Handsome and confident he certainly turns heads and thinks he knows best. However the village becomes divided and then the mysterious agony aunt wades in with their opinion too. For all his faults, in Trish’s eyes, he does start to make her think about her strengths and overtime a friendship develops. There is so much more to the characters in this and I loved how their backstories were threaded through this. An engaging story, interesting dialogue and interactions with plenty of humour to break up the serious moments make this a great heartwarming read.