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The Canal Boat Café #2
Casting Off
Summer Freeman has embarked on a new life afloat. She’s taking the Canal Boat Café on a scenic journey and is meeting old friends and new. Among the new is Claire from the bohemian boating community who is keen to take Summer under her wing. Mason, the handsome photographer from Willowbeck, seems intent on tracking her down, but Summer has discovered that Mason isn’t all that he seems to be.
Summer starts to feel a real sense of freedom amongst wandering river folk, but she soon finds herself missing Willowbeck… And Mason, whose articles she has been reading online. Will Summer embrace the nomadic lifestyle or will she find herself drawn back to Willowbeck, the place she loves best and where Mason is waiting?
Summer starts to feel a real sense of freedom amongst wandering river folk, but she soon finds herself missing Willowbeck… And Mason, whose articles she has been reading online. Will Summer embrace the nomadic lifestyle or will she find herself drawn back to Willowbeck, the place she loves best and where Mason is waiting?
107 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2016
101 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
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 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 8, 2016
5 Words: Friends, family, attraction, business, liveaboard.
This little series is awesome.
I love how the author tackles the fact that the main character lives on a narrow boat, how it's quite an insular community of rovers but still so friendly and welcoming.
I love what happens because everyone knows each other, and you're pretty guaranteed that chaos of one sort or another is going to ensue.
This installment is a little bit darker, and it feels like the storyline has taken a turn in a different direction.
This little series is awesome.
I love how the author tackles the fact that the main character lives on a narrow boat, how it's quite an insular community of rovers but still so friendly and welcoming.
I love what happens because everyone knows each other, and you're pretty guaranteed that chaos of one sort or another is going to ensue.
This installment is a little bit darker, and it feels like the storyline has taken a turn in a different direction.
June 10, 2022
I didn't like the second part of this series as much as the first, but am still curious to see what happens, so will keep going with it. As I wrote in my review of Part I, this is really more like a four-part book rather than stand-alone books in a series. So far each part ends with a cliffhanger, and the this part would make absolutely no sense if you hadn't read the first. I continue to wish this was simply a single long book rather than four parts.
August 22, 2017
Loved this book, having just returned from a canal boat holiday it is lovely to read a book on that setting, now to download the third book
November 9, 2020
Enjoyable
I really enjoyed this instalment of the book, I has now made me want to spend the rest of the day reading the other parts.
A few twists and turns along the way but most people with enjoy this easy read
I really enjoyed this instalment of the book, I has now made me want to spend the rest of the day reading the other parts.
A few twists and turns along the way but most people with enjoy this easy read
July 23, 2017
It's great to see Summer's confidence and independence growing! Off to the next book!
January 14, 2018
Canal boats
It would be a lovely way to live aboard a boat. A more secure system out in the middle of nowhere would be more sensible.
It would be a lovely way to live aboard a boat. A more secure system out in the middle of nowhere would be more sensible.
October 25, 2021
Makes me wish I was on a canal boat in the UK enjoying the sounds and adventure.
December 1, 2021
You know exactly what you're getting with this book.
January 21, 2023
Another easy read. Love the characters and setting. I have a sneaky suspicion who the culprit is and look forward to finding out in the remaining books. Much better ending.
May 30, 2024
nice
These are such nice books you can imagine a slow boat ride up the canal . Looking forward to the next instalment
These are such nice books you can imagine a slow boat ride up the canal . Looking forward to the next instalment
November 6, 2016
great
July 26, 2016
To be completely honest, I skimmed this book. It feels very much like a bridge between plot points.
I said in my review of the first book that it just stopped and I felt as though it was only about halfway through the plot, well this book feels like the missing chapters of that one, a short diversion to a new location, with some new characters, before resuming business as usual in Willowbeck.
The newly introduced characters didn't really do much - there was some talk of Mason having a dark past, which Claire was hinting at, but this wasn't furthered in any way. Maybe it will be added to in book 3.
Yes, despite being put of by the sudden end of the first book, and underwhelmed by the second, I have bought the third.
It's hard to say what's driving my interest in the story. The protagonist is very bland, and the story not really interesting, but there is something underneath the disconnected plot points. I think that something is mostly about the protagonist's not-quite-friendzoned-friend. The whole book I was waiting for him to show up and cause conflict or drama, because the actual page-to page story wasn't very urgent - it was mostly about that main character idly debating whether she was going to go back to Willowbeck or not. BUT, when Captain Friendzone did reappear it was very interesting - mostly because I think it was him that trashed the café to get Summer to move back home. Just like I think it was him that told Valerie that Summer didn't believe in psychics.
He seems obsessive and crazy, and that's interesting enough for me to keep reading for a confrontation. However, I still feel this could have been edited down into one book, two at the most, and it feels a bit choppy and underdeveloped in its current form. There's not enough conflict to make me want to keep reading, it's just my expectation of some kind of resolution that's keeping me going.
The setting is interesting and the editing is of a good quality, the writing is serviceable, not terribly descriptive but doesn't distract from the plot.
I said in my review of the first book that it just stopped and I felt as though it was only about halfway through the plot, well this book feels like the missing chapters of that one, a short diversion to a new location, with some new characters, before resuming business as usual in Willowbeck.
The newly introduced characters didn't really do much - there was some talk of Mason having a dark past, which Claire was hinting at, but this wasn't furthered in any way. Maybe it will be added to in book 3.
Yes, despite being put of by the sudden end of the first book, and underwhelmed by the second, I have bought the third.
It's hard to say what's driving my interest in the story. The protagonist is very bland, and the story not really interesting, but there is something underneath the disconnected plot points. I think that something is mostly about the protagonist's not-quite-friendzoned-friend. The whole book I was waiting for him to show up and cause conflict or drama, because the actual page-to page story wasn't very urgent - it was mostly about that main character idly debating whether she was going to go back to Willowbeck or not. BUT, when Captain Friendzone did reappear it was very interesting - mostly because I think it was him that trashed the café to get Summer to move back home. Just like I think it was him that told Valerie that Summer didn't believe in psychics.
He seems obsessive and crazy, and that's interesting enough for me to keep reading for a confrontation. However, I still feel this could have been edited down into one book, two at the most, and it feels a bit choppy and underdeveloped in its current form. There's not enough conflict to make me want to keep reading, it's just my expectation of some kind of resolution that's keeping me going.
The setting is interesting and the editing is of a good quality, the writing is serviceable, not terribly descriptive but doesn't distract from the plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2016
Argh! The struggle of serialised novels! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!
I loved this second installment of The Canal Boat Cafe series. It took me a short while to try and work out who all the characters were again but after I'd managed that I was sucked straight back into Summer's world.
Cressy writes so well and I loved that this section of the novel had so many elements to it. I am really intrigued to see what will happen in the next two installments and to watch how the relationship between Mason and Summer develops.
Loved it!
I loved this second installment of The Canal Boat Cafe series. It took me a short while to try and work out who all the characters were again but after I'd managed that I was sucked straight back into Summer's world.
Cressy writes so well and I loved that this section of the novel had so many elements to it. I am really intrigued to see what will happen in the next two installments and to watch how the relationship between Mason and Summer develops.
Loved it!
August 13, 2016
A funny read
I read this book as an escape from things and I am now addicted to a set of lovable characters. The book set on a boat (would always want to do that) and revolves around characters where I certainly cared what happened to them and have been willing then to succeed. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I read this book as an escape from things and I am now addicted to a set of lovable characters. The book set on a boat (would always want to do that) and revolves around characters where I certainly cared what happened to them and have been willing then to succeed. I can't wait to see what happens next.
April 9, 2016
Throughly enjoyed this second instalment to the Canal Boat series. Good to meet up with Summer again - even if it did end on a slightly sad point.
April 22, 2016
Review to follow
April 5, 2016
Great to catch up with life on the Canal Boat... having moved to a different mooring the cafe keeps busy. Really enjoy reading about Summer and Mason just wish the books were longer. ..
April 6, 2016
Part 2 of The Canal Boat Cafe series didn't disappoint!
April 29, 2016
Loved it
Going to read part three straight away! A very enjoyable read, looking forward to what happens next in this series.
Going to read part three straight away! A very enjoyable read, looking forward to what happens next in this series.
May 6, 2016
Lovely continuation of the story. Loved the shout out to the Monmouth Brecon canal!
May 13, 2016
An easy read
Good story line, once You start its hard to put down, characters are a mixture and can't wait for the next book.
Good story line, once You start its hard to put down, characters are a mixture and can't wait for the next book.
November 16, 2016
Can't wait to read the next instalment as the story seems to have taken a turn into the unknown past leaving me wanting to know more!
April 11, 2016
I love this series! Cressida writes nature/setting so vividly. Full review to follow.
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August 8, 2016Love these books, but they are way too short! Should all be combined into one book
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews