Wenn die Liebe Anker wirft

The Canal Boat Café

by Cressida McLaughlin

Ein kleines gemütliches Boots-Café am beschaulichen Flussufer. Eigentlich traumhaft, trotzdem fällt es Summer schwer zurückzukehren an den Ort, an dem sie so vieles an ihre verstorbene Mutter erinnert. Doch sie muss das Café retten! Und plötzlich ist sie mittendrin, in einem neuen Leben am und auf dem Fluss. Zum Glück hat sie Mason, den Besitzer des Nachbarbootes, der immer da ist, wenn sie Hilfe braucht. Aber ist das nicht alles zu perfekt, um wahr zu sein?

"Ein Buch, wie eine liebevolle Umarmung." Kirsty Greenwood

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Friendship, Audiobook

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2016

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Sonja Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF nach etwa der Hälfte.
Mir war das Ganze zu konstruiert. All die zufälligen Zufälle bei der sie ihr Love-Interest getroffen hat (ich hab das Buch seit über einem Jahr nicht gelesen, gerade gefunden und hab vergessen wie die Leute in dem Buch heißen)
Ich meine einmal, nach dem Einbruch saß er sogar halb nackt bei ihr im Boot. Na sowas!
Ne das war nix für mich.

[Luise · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Canal Boat Café' is a very lovely book. I really liked the development of the story, the way Summer settled into her life as a liveaboard, all the 'secrets' got revealed and everything.

But then the sheer pleasure of reading was subdued by an overwhelming amount of fulsome 
- expressions of gratitude
- reassurances that everything will be fine
- "I couldn't have done this without you"-s
- exchanges like: "you are the hero!" - "ah stop it! YOU are the real hero!"- "but without your help doing this and that blah blah." - "yeah, but I only did that because YOU ..." (Aah guys. Just shut up already.)
- generally repeating every conversation, assertion, emotional analysis etc. over and over again.
And this stretched the whole thing immensely, which got pretty tiring after a while.

Then there was this grande finale. That was really great. I liked how the story settled at that point, how all 'open mysteries' got resolved and almost everyone found a satisfying happy end. Perfect!
Oh. Well.
Yeah.
Or so I thought. But no, the author had to squeeze in another final disaster. Another event to reemphasize some characteristics and events already mentioned at some point before.

That was so unnecessary. I wanted to throw it out of the window. It kind of destroyed the perfectly fine ending. Another 30 - 40 pages to stretch the story even further. That's such a shame.

Luckily, I liked the rest so I can still give 4 stars.

[Emmkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly the kind of cheery, undemanding summer read I was in the mood for. After her mother’s death, the protagonist reluctantly takes on running her mother’s cafe out of a narrowboat on a canal. There are cute dogs, lively neighbours including a handsome fellow (with a cute dog), some drama and unresolved tension, some baking, some showing of research about narrowboat life. My spouse was entertained by my updates on the gentle plot - “What’s happening now?” - “they went for a walk and one of the dog’s leads got tangled round a sign post!” - “and now?” - “she needs another pair of hands for a busy day at the cafe!”. Just right.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful and entertaining read this has been. I absolutely loved the story which kept me glued to its pages from beginning to end.

I fell in love with the characters, well most of them, and as for the setting of the book, well it all just came alive and I felt like I was there within the story itself.

I loved the two dogs Latte and Archie, their antics certainly gave me a giggle.

It's been a heartwarming read and I'm already looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Canal Boat Café' was a very nice read!

It's about Summer Freeman, who returns to the tiny village of Willowbeck, where her mother owned a café, which is situated on a narrowboat. Sadly, her mother died a few months ago. Family friend Valerie tries to keep the café running, but fails more and more, so Summer comes back to help sort things out. She is torn between trying to be a proper café owner and selling the café completely. Summer's handsome, if a bit secretive neighbour Mason is definitely an advantage, but there are also people, who don't want her back in the village...

I really liked the story, the characters and the setting. It was very enjoyable! I liked, that there were people who could not be seen through from the beginning (theoretically, because I did anyway, but still :D) and that there was also a tiny mystery-solving-thing included. Even I didn't know until the very end what this mystery was about, and that is saying something! Also, towards the end it even gets a little dramatic.

So, I would definitely reccomend this book and I hope to be reading more books by this author in the future!

[Steffi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Der Klappentext hatte mich sehr angesprochen und mir hat die Idee mit dem Kanalbootcafé sehr gut gefallen.

Leider hatte ich von Beginn an Probleme mich auf die Geschichte einzulassen. Ich hatte allerdings noch Hoffnung, dass es im Verlaufe des Buches besser wird, aber leider bin ich nie wirklich angekommen. Die Handlung war für mich einfach unglaublich zäh und ich habe mich stellenweise sehr gelangweilt.
Man merkt außerdem auch, dass das Buch ursprünglich mal in mehreren Kurzgeschichten aufgeteilt war und dadurch in den verschiedenen Teilen immer ein Bruch in der Geschichte ist.

Auch mit den Charakteren bin ich nicht warm geworden. Sie wirkten auf mich sehr distanziert und ich konnte einfach nicht mitfiebern.

Leider hat das Buch meinen Geschmack nicht getroffen und ich musste mich größtenteils durch die Seiten quälen.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this! What a beautiful setting for a book too! Disappearing onto the serene canal boats of Willowbeck, with Summer who returns back to this nostalgic place which hold many memories for her, to take over the cafe on the canal boat. Except this time, there’s a new neighbour next door..

I loved getting to know Mason and Summer over the course of this book. It was all just so lovely, full of community spirit, friendship, romance and plenty of drama to keep you on your toes! I didn’t foresee many of the events (no spoilers here!) but it was great and so entertaining.

The audiobook I listened to really help to immerse into the story and it flew by. I’m a big fan of Cressida McLaughlin anyway and have read most of her later books and now I’m making my way through some of the earlier ones. She’s seriously such a great author and is becoming a reliable one for me, to pick up her books and know I’ll love them!

[Katherine Livesey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this. It wasn't massively fluffy and unusually in a book of its genre, the romance wasn't the only driver of the plot - instead it focuses on Summer's growth and recovery from her own painful past. Saying that though, Mason is a total dreamboat (no pun intended). Not for everyone admittedly, and not my style usually, but this book came at the right time and I really appreciated it.

[Heather Copping · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good, cosy summer read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming British book about a cafe on a narrow boat

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, new author for me. I'll read more from her.

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. There's something about canal boats as settings for books that can really, really work. I really enjoyed watching Summer's journey as she discovered herself on the canal and healed some wounds from her past. All the secondary characters feel real and well rounded and the problems that need solving/resolving are real issues not just pretend-y book ones.

This was originally a four-series and is still divided into four parts, but you don't notice much of the repetition you often get in books of this kind - whehter that's because it's been tweaked and edited out or because McLaughlin is cunning at sneaking it in (or confident enough that she doesn't need to do it) I'm not sure.

A lovely summer read.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author I have read I really enjoyed the book from the first page and was an easy read with excellent characters. Summer is going back to the canal boat that was her mind but since she passed away she left the canal boat which was a cafe to a friend to run. It's in desperate need of work doing and the cafe to pick more business up. She is struggling to cope with her loss and can she take it on and make a go of it or not. Can she find love and move forward as her mum would want or cannot she not forgive herself a really good read.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good light read. The characters had enough depth that you got emotionally invested in the outcome, which is always a winner.

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I have finally read this book, only taken 9 years. I first started it August 2016, a few short weeks before losing my Dad, and just x
could not deal with it. But now I have spent past 10 days at Willowbeck on this canal boat cafe and it felt as though I was really there . I have been on a canal boat so got the vibe but it was much needed and I really enjoyed it and it was the perfect one to end summer reading with.

[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some Christmas books due for review imminently so trying to get in some summer reads first to squeeze out the last of sunny (ish!) days!

I do enjoy Cressida's novels and this was no exception - a light-hearted read with a will-they, won't-they romance and some cute pupsters thrown into the mix, you certainly know what you're getting but enjoyable all the same.

[Linniegayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but it appears to be the first part of a continuing series. It is really "Part I," so definitely not completely. I just downloaded the second part, and it seems to pick up where this left off.

[Katie Rushworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, an easy read that kept me reading, wanting to find out more. I was rooting for Summer and Mason from the start. The idea of living in a canal boat has alway appealed to me and it felt like a cosy read.

[Mel Jenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great! I loved the journey that Summer went on...and Latte is so damn cute! It was really fun to read about the cafe and the cakes, it honestly made me hungry! Love love love Mason, such a great love interest and I like that he isn't a one dimension character. However, I really didn't like Ross, he was just awful for no reason really, I think Summer should have told him to get lost long ago.
The only problem I had with this book is that sometimes, it was a little boring and slow, but once you get past some of it, it's such a fantastic story.
Another thing I didn't realise is that this was originally a small series, and this book is the collection of the four small e-books. If that could be made clear somewhere on the book, it'd be great.

* Review update - October 2022:
Upon rereading this, The Canal Boat Cafe remains a lovely, quick and fun chick-lit that you can truly lose yourself in. Summer, Mason, and other supporting characters all hold an important role in the story, whilst holding their own, which is always incredibly refreshing as most chick-lit writers completely ignore everyone but the heroine and the love interest.
Summer and Mason’s relationship is a long time coming, but it works, with a real genuine connection and warmth between them.
The thing (or person) I dislike the most is Ross. Rereading this really highlighted to me what a truly awful person he is! And the fact he keeps doing and saying terrible things to manipulate Summer into a relationship is bloody awful and barely anyone picks up on it or highlights it. And we discover towards the end that Ross actually does something criminal to hurt Summer and she never even goes to the police about it? Like what? In what world can that ever be explained as “oh it’s okay because he’s just trying to show the depth of his feelings?” So I really wish he’d buggered off after the first 100 pages - he served his character purpose and often felt like a plot device to keep the inevitable relationship from happening until the end. But other than that - the prose is much richer and descriptive for what you’d expect, presenting an idyllic review of life upon a riverboat. A lovely cosy read for summer.

[Anne Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

With ancestors working on the canals, this book was bound to catch my interest. In it, we learn that Summer Freeman has inherited the narrowboat from her mother. Summer blames herself for her mother’s death and has been unable to return to the boat since her mother’s death the previous year. When she finally does so, she discovers it in chaos as her mother’s friend has been running it on her behalf. Summer has to step in before she can sell it as planned. In doing so, she once again becomes involved in the life in Willowbeck, the boat’s permanent mooring, helped by Valerie and a new liveaboard neighbour, Mason, and his wayward terrier, and decides that she cannot give the boat up. Before finding happiness together, she and Mason must both face the memories in their past. I became thoroughly involved in this story and loved every minute of it. If I have one quibble, it’s with the heroine’s name, Summer. As most of the story takes place during one Summer, I found myself getting confused at times. Summer in Summer?

[Felix Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical events like this.
Boats and historical events are what make me love reading. Could you please share the sequel books of your series?

In fact, even though I started reading very late, I'm getting more and more immersed every day.

It is a great chance to read the books of important authors. I know that. I'm looking forward to your new books.

I am writing the importance of reading a book here for friends who want to read this book. I hope it will benefit sellers and customers...

Are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

1. Reading Exercises the Brain

While reading, we have to remember different characters and settings that belong to a given story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you have to remember the details throughout the time you take to read the book. Therefore, reading is a workout for your brain that improves memory function.

2. Reading is a Form of (free) Entertainment

Did you know that most of the popular TV shows and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading. Most importantly, it’s free with your Markham Public Library card.

3. Reading Improves Concentration and the Ability to Focus

We can all agree that reading cannot happen without focus and in order to fully understand the story, we have to concentrate on each page that we read. In a world where gadgets are only getting faster and shortening our attention span, we need to constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, therefore, improving your ability to concentrate.

4. Reading Improves Literacy

Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.

5. Reading Improves Sleep

By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it is time to sleep. Now, more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. Therefore, by setting your phone aside and picking up a book, you are telling your brain that it is time to quiet down. Moreover, since reading helps you de-stress, doing so right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve the quality of sleep.

6. Reading Increases General Knowledge

Books are always filled with fun and interesting facts. Whether you read fiction or non-fictions, books have the ability to provide us with information we would’ve otherwise not known. Reading a variety of topics can make you a more knowledgeable person, in turn improving your conversation skills.

7. Reading is Motivational

By reading books about protagonists who have overcome challenges, we are oftentimes encouraged to do the same. The right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive, regardless of whether it’s a romance novel or a self-help book.

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[Sabine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mir hat das Cover mit seiner Verspieltheit sehr gefallen und bei mir Lust auf einen leichten Sommerroman geweckt – und genau das bekommt man bei der Lektüre auch, einen leichte Liebesgeschichte mit sympathischen Charakteren, mit denen man gerne auf dem Wasser umher schippert.

Maddy führt ein erfolgreiches Bootscafe, doch sie verstirbt unerwartet und das beliebte Cafe scheint dem Untergang geweiht. Ihre Tochter Summer kann sich erst nicht entschließen, das Cafe weiterzuführen, denn zu viele Erinnerungen quälen sie und erinnern an glückliche Zeiten. Doch sie lässt sich auf einen Versuch ein und entdeckt sich und das Leben von einer ganz neuen Seite.

Der Einstieg in die Geschichte ist mir leicht gelungen, und man ist direkt mit Summer auf dem Bootscafe. Hier gibt es einige Freunde, die sich freuen, sie zu sehen, aber nicht von allen wird sie mit offenen Armen empfangen. Was genau vorgefallen ist, erfährt man erst im Laufe der Geschichte, auch, warum Summer sich so sträubt, das Cafe zu übernehmen. Lange Zeit plätschert dann leider auch die Geschichte nur leise vor sich hin und richtig viel passiert nicht – hier hätte ich mir etwas mehr Handlung gewünscht, irgendetwas, was mich gefesselt hätte, denn so habe ich das Buch nur allzu gerne aus der Hand gelegt. Erst im letzten Drittel wird es wieder etwas turbulenter, und hier nimmt dann auch die Liebesgeschichte, die sich schon früh angedeutet hat, aber dann auch lange auf der Stelle getreten ist, mehr Fahrt auf.

Der Schreibstil ist leicht und locker und lässt sich schnell und flüssig lesen. Er ist durch viele Dialoge sehr lebendig, auch wenn diese manchmal etwas gestelzt wirken. Gefallen hat mir die Atmosphäre des Bootscafés und ich hatte viele Bilder vor Augen – am liebsten hätte ich mich direkt aufgemacht, um auch ein wenig Seeluft zu schnuppern.

Die Charaktere sind eher flach gezeichnet, dafür aber nicht unsympathisch. Besonders mochte ich Mason, den etwas Geheimnisvolles umgibt und der das Herz am rechten Fleck trägt. Summer mochte ich auch gleich zu Beginn – auch wenn sie manchmal ein wenig naiv wirkt und die Dinge nicht so recht anzupacken weiß. Zum Glück helfen ihr da Freunde, die immer wieder mit dem berühmten Zaunpfahl winken.

Mich hat das Buch für den Augenblick gut unterhalten und ein schönes Sommerfeeling geschaffen – lange wird es mir aber nicht in Erinnerung bleiben. Ich empfehle es gerne als leichte Sommerlektüre für zwischendurch und gebe 3 von 5 Sternen.

Mein Fazit
Ein leichter Sommerroman, der auf einem Bootscafé spielt und die besondere Atmosphäre gut einfängt – leider hat er im Mittelteil aber auch seine Längen. Trotzdem hat er mir schöne Lesestunden geschenkt und mir ein angenehmes Sommergefühl geschaffen. Der Schreibstil ist leicht und locker, die Charaktere sympathisch – ich gebe diesem Buch 3 von 5 Sternen.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cressida McLaughlin (2016) THE CANAL BOAT CAFÉ

London. HarperCollins


⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 out of 5 stars


Amazon.com write, “Summer Freeman returns to the waterside village of Willowbeck to rescue the Canal Boat Café, her late mother’s picturesque narrowboat, which has run into choppy waters. A family friend, Valerie, has been trying to keep things afloat, but the coffee machine is jammed, the cake offerings are paltry, and not all of the locals want to see the café succeed. Help comes from the boat next door, in the shape of handsome wildlife photographer, Mason and his naughty Border Terrier, who are showing more than a passing interest in Summer and her adorable Bichon Frise, Latte. But is Mason being honest about himself? Or does he have something to hide? As her life and the community of Willowbeck begin to entwine, Summer finds herself setting sail on a new adventure. Will the anchor of a steady life on land be too strong, or can Summer learn to cut loose and embrace life afloat?”


This started with the making of a mountain of bacon sandwiches… Was instantly hooked. Along with the bacon came Mason. I was in love with this boat-dwelling dreamboat from the off. It was all "if-Summer-doesn't-want-Mason-then-I-will-sure-as-sh*t-will-have-him"...


Marked as 4 stars out of 5 only because I gave Cressida's "The House Of Birds And Butterflies" 5 stars having lllllllllloved that book. I loved this one a whole lot - it gives you all the feels - but I wasn't as blown away by this one as I was with THOBAB. That's all.


#CressidaMcLaughlin #TheCanalBoatCafe #TheCanalBoatCafé #CressidaMcLaughlinTheCanalBoatCafe #CressidaMcLaughlinTheCanalBoatCafé #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #BookShelf #Library

[A.M.]

I had this on my library wishlist years ago and it disappeared from the catalogue before I got around to borrowing it, so I was pleased when it showed back up again.

But…

I have so many issues with the main character and I know it is just me. Summer shows up to the titular cafe and wails on about how it is not the way her mother wanted it, the paint is chipped, the cafe is not clean enough and the coffee machine has not been cleaned and is not working properly. ‘Why isn’t the blackboard out?’ she demands.

And then I realise that the neighbour who owns a business of her own (tarot reading) and indeed a canal boat of her own, has been trying to run this cafe for Summer after her mother’s death EIGHT MONTHS AGO. And I wanted to slap the girl. How dare you? Can you imagine? The neighbour has zero obligation to do this for you. She must be spending her own money, and losing her own business to do this.

Summer ‘helps’ by buying some bacon, whips up a batch of scones and THEN leaves again.

If she is the love interest, I want to shout - dude, RUN. This woman is a disaster. And I know it is meant to be her ‘wound’ but I really can’t get past it.

DNF at 10%

So far this year, my library saved me A$856.78

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Th Canal Boat Cafe follows the story of Summer, as she takes over her mother's cafe and tries to restore the family business.

Summer is a lovely heroine to read about and I especially liked the scenes with the dogs and her interactions with the hero. The other boat owners in the mooring area are well-rounded, entertaining characters who add humour to the story, as well as contributing to Summer's development.

Such a lot happens in this book but I thought the pacing was a bit off in some places - possibly because it was originally in 4 parts. (I can't imagine how hard it is to write a serial like that, I'm sure when it's in parts some readers would be upset at a cliffhanger ending and then when you put it together you get others like me who felt it could have been concluded a bit sooner!)

Regardless, the storyline was fun, the main characters were well-rounded and I was rooting for Summer to get a happy ending.

[Mrs J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts 5 and 6.

Long term readers may remember me mentioning the Canal Boat Café by Cressida McLaughlin as being one of my favourite reads of 2017. Well, I finally got round to reading parts 5 and 6 which cover the festive season.

You don’t have to have read parts 1-4 first as there is a little bit of recap in the Christmas editions (although I recommend that you do because they are lovely stories). You do, however, need to read or part 5 and 6 together and in order.

In these two novellas, you get more tales of canal life as the roving gang meets up in Little Venice London for the Christmas season. The stories provide a bit of nature, mystery, romance, and friendship, as well as two lovely furry companions.

Both parts are a good couple of hours reading. I thoroughly recommend reading the whole series, parts 1-4 can be bought together or separately.

Warning of food craving alert for macaroons, bacon rolls and gingerbread spiced lattes.

[MRS CHRISTINE SITTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

So refreshing

Yet again another delightful book, as usual I didn't want it to finish. The story of Summer and her heartache was very moving. Loved how the dogs and cats fit in and add another dimension to the story and how they fit into the lives of their owners. Love stories that twist and turn and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Hopefully there will be more stories about the cafe.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There seems to be a current trend for chick lit books centred around cafes. Here the setting is a canal boat cafe run by Summer's mother Maddie. Following her sudden death, Summer takes it over, meeting her fellow river based neighbours. The description of the boat made it sound very attractive, as did the setting around Cambridge. At times, I felt the storyline flagged, but overall this was an enjoyable, escapist easy read.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely easy read.
Summer inherits the Canal Boat Cafe when her Mum passes away and eventually decides to take it on but with twists and turns along the way. A bit of a mystery with a dash of romance thrown in all set on the beautiful canals of England. Not everyone wants her to succeed and she finds herself at odds with various characters. Is Mason as good as he appears to be or does he have hidden secrets?
A lovely escape book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the books setting on a narrow boat in England, especially near Peterborough where my family are from.

The story is well planned and executed, she encounters good and interestingly not so good along her journey in her boat inherited from her gypsy mother now passed and the emotions around her mothers passing are also worked through.

Main character has a little Bishon Friese dog to add to her inner voice dialog.

All in all a great escapist book for a quick trip home on the plane