The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove

Seashell Cove #3

by Karen Clarke

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the café at Seashell Cove, where there’s hot chocolate to keep you warm – and the man of your dreams could be waiting…

Interior designer Tilly Campbell loves being carefree and single. But her latest job is redecorating the cosy local café for a Christmas party, and when her friends confess their plans for the big night – including a proposal, a declaration of love and a pregnancy announcement – Tilly starts to wonder if she might be missing out…

Transforming the café into a winter wonderland is more of a challenge than she thought, so when she bumps into gorgeous newcomer Seth, Tilly welcomes the distraction. Seth is a single father, struggling to settle his son Jack into their new cottage, and Tilly is determined to help them make their house into a home in time for Christmas.

But with the café still in chaos just days before the party it looks like it’s going to be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons… With friends old and new relying on her, can Tilly save the Christmas party?

And could she finally find love waiting for her under the mistletoe?

A heart-warming, hilarious read about friendship, family and the meaning of Christmas. Perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Holly Martin and Debbie Johnson!

What readers are saying about Karen
‘I absolutely loved it… Touched my heart … Absolutely wonderful… If I could give this book more than five stars I really, really would… Uplifting, feel good and absolutely beautiful. I adored it.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Such an amazing read, I just didn't want to put it down. It's worth far more than the five stars I have given it… Full of romance… Funny and heart-warming… Fantastic read, I highly recommend it… Simply fantastic read.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Wonderful… Heart-warming and funny… Absolutely perfect… Had me hook, line and sinker right from page one… Delight in every single word.’ Stardust Book Reviews

‘Sent my pulse racing… I fell head over heels in love… Will certainly have your heart melting… Extremely hard to put down… A deliciously, wondrous story that you will devour within no time at all. It is escapism at its finest and I really enjoyed every minute of it.’ By the Letter Book Reviews

‘Delightfully brilliant!... I absolutely LOVED this book… Truly magical… It would take a person made of stone to not fall in love… This book made me feel the happiest I have felt in a long time… I felt as though I was on cloud nine… I truly didn’t want the story to end… Simply perfect.’ The Writing Garnet

‘An absolute joy to read… A warm, romantic, feel-good read… The perfect piece of escapism!’ Dash Fan Book Reviews

‘I couldn’t put it down… Highly recommended, I loved it!

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Adult, Holiday, Contemporary Romance

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2018

About the author

I live in Buckinghamshire with my husband and three grown-up children where I write psychological thrillers for HQDigital/HarperCollins and romantic comedy novels published by Bookouture.

Over the years I've been a secretary/bookkeeper, a wedding photographer, a pub manager, I've worked in a supermarket, a newsagent's and as a librarian - all good for story ideas.

I now write full-time and when I'm not writing, I read a lot, enjoy walking - which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas - photography, watching Netflix, baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.

Reviews

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah the final installment in the Seashell cove series and after learning about Cassie and Meg’s stories, we finally get to see how it all plays out for Tilly!

Seth and his charming son move to Seashell cove to start fresh when he quickly stumbles upon Tilly during a chance encounter. We get to learn more about Seth’s history and see how their relationship develops through the time leading up to Christmas.

If you don’t know, I am a huge Christmas book fan - especially of the British chick lit variety - and this one did not disappoint. I love Karen Clarke’s writing style and how she can make you root for these characters.

I loved how we still get more development from Meg and Cassie and got to see where their stories headed as well. And I absolutely abhorred Tilly’s boyfriend, Rufus, (a good thing! Give me all the unlikeables!). A nod to the author for creating such a detestable character. He was that and more!

This was a great, festive read that will have you singing Jingle Bells and rooting for a happy ending for our main character!

A big thank you to Bookouture for my advance copy. This book is now available!

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This appears to be the week for "café" books. If holiday stories aren't set in cafes, then they are set in bookstores. Regardless of the setting, however, The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a delightful, humorous holiday tale. Seashell Cove is a series by Karen Clarke that features a different resident in each book, although past and future featured characters all make at least a cameo appearance in the current storyline.

Tilly is a free spirit who loves to work wherever her heart leads. Currently she is doing interior design work but she refuses to take it too seriously or even call it a "job." She likes getting paid to do what she loves without the strings of a "business" attached. This Christmas, however, her friends and the café owners, are putting a great deal of pressure on her to turn the new addition to the café into something spectacular, each wanting to use the grand opening holiday celebration as a very special occasion to reveal big surprises. In addition, there is a new man in town with a young son who may, or may not, hire Tilly to redecorate his new home. The man, Seth, unfortunately comes with a very overbearing mother who has ideas of her own. 

There are all of the usual holiday read must-haves: a bit of intrigue, encouraging friends, a colorful character or two and, most importantly, romance with missed cues and crossed signals that can keep the reading enjoyable and interesting. The folks of Seashell Cove always are a delight to catch up with and Tilly's character is one of the best and most interesting to date. 

If you are a fan of cozy books - mystery or romance - and like a good holiday tale that is not too over-the-top Christmassy, then The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a must read for you. Once you've read this one, I encourage you to catch up with the other folks from Seashell Cove. You will be glad that you did. 

Much appreciation to #Netgalley, @Bookouture, and the author, @KarenClarke123 for my copy of this humorous tale! 

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, fluffy, and festive!

This is the third book in the Seashell Cove series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone.... in fact I have only read the second book, time permitting I will get back to the first book and read Cassie’s story! This is really a story about love and friendship with some holiday cheer sprinkled in... so if you are a bit of a Scrooge and not a fan of Christmas books, I think this will work perfectly for you😉

This is Tilly’s story, but don’t fear we get plenty of glimpses into Meg’s life.... Tilley has taken on the job of turning the café into a winter wonderland, a bigger task than she had anticipated... after finding out all that is being revealed at the Christmas party she feels even more pressure, but will Tilly find a love of her own? Seth is new to town a single father with a young boy... A young boy that Tilly “saves” One day at the beach, and so Tilly and Seth meet! SO will the mistletoe do its magic???

I really liked Tilly from the previous book so I was happy to get her story... but wow she has quite the complicated relationship with her sister Bridget... not sure who was more grumpy and demanding Bridget or Seth’s mom Felicity? They both were acting like the Grinch that stole Christmas, their hearts were two sizes too small! Seth was a good guy and a good dad, he just needed to stand up to his mom...

This really was a will they? Won’t they? Love story full of laughter and heartwarming moments... Seth and Tilly both had some baggage, but Who doesn’t? A fun friends to lovers story with a holiday vibe🎄

Recommend to fans of romance, friendship, winter, and Cheer🥂

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous ending to the seashell cove series, as we finally get Tilly's story, and a whole lot of series long story arcs reach a fitting conclusion in a great finale.

Tilly has promised to get the renovations of the function room of the cafe ready in time for a Christmas Eve party. Over the course of the book we can see that things aren't going quite according to plan.. but what amused me was the amount of people planning key events for the party so long as it goes ahead.

Tilly meets Seth who has just moved to town with his 6 year old son Jack, and watching a fledgling friendship between them start up was lovely to see. Equally seeing how Tllly's relationship with her sister progresses s quite heartening.

This could be read as a standalone but why would you want to when the others in the series are so good.

I loved reading every moment of this story, and found myself really getting behind Tilly, especially in her uncertainty about her boyfriend, Rufus. All the regulars from Seashell Cove were there, and Gwen from the cafe was as amusing as ever.

A joy to read this is another lovely story from an author who is fast becoming a drop everything and read now author - in fact I pretty much did that with this book and didn't regret it. Such a pleasurable story to lose yourself in for a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guest review for Harlequin Junkie. https://www.harlequinjunkie.com

Very cute and sweet story!!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in a series but since life got in the way this summer I wasn’t able to read the second book. It was no problem reading this as a standalone as each book focuses on a specific couple but they are set in the same charming town so there are lots of cameos from old friends. This time it’s about Tilly, she was such a warm, likable character and one I took a liking to instantly. As usual all of the characters were very easy to like (with the exception of one or two) and it makes me want to pack up and move to Seashell Cove myself.

The romance here was one of those slow builds, a friends to lovers trope and it’s so nice to see as it always comes across as highly realistic and like the way a relationship would unfold in real life. The humor in Clarke’s books is always what keeps me coming back for more and her trademark wit is in full effect here, I always finish her books with a grin on my face and this time I was even feeling a festive vibe, I couldn’t ask for anything more!

Christmas at Seashell Cove in three words: Enchanting, Festive and Adorable.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well if this book doesn't get you into the spirit of Christmas then I don't know what else will!

I love this series of books all set within Seashell Cove. Each one introduces us to new characters and are stand alone's. The setting is fabulous for getting across the coldness of the time of year we are about to enter but still made me want to very much be there seeing and experiencing everything for myself.

Seth is my new book crush. I absolutely adored him as well as his son. I just wanted to wrap them both up in my arms and take care of them. In fact all of the characters in the book are great. Some for very different reasons.

Tilly will have readers warming to her instantly. Her character really is wonderful even though she doesn't seem to have really found her niche yet in life. I loved how she portrays many of us, as I know I for one had no clue what I wanted to do with my life and this very much comes across from Tilly. 

The story is one about new beginnings and more importantly, family. The romances side builds slowly so I could sit back and enjoy every aspect of this wonderful novel. The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is one that will definitely warm your heart. It's a fabulous story that will make you appreciate your family that little bit more. One to put a smile on your face and joy in your heart!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interior designer Tilly Campbell loves being carefree and single. But her latest job is redecorating the cosy local café for a Christmas party, and when her friends confess their plans for the big night – including a proposal, a declaration of love and a pregnancy announcement – Tilly starts to wonder if she might be missing out…
Transforming the café into a winter wonderland is more of a challenge than she thought, so when she bumps into gorgeous newcomer Seth, Tilly welcomes the distraction. Seth is a single father, struggling to settle his son Jack into their new cottage, and Tilly is determined to help them make their house into a home in time for Christmas.
But with the café still in chaos just days before the party it looks like it’s going to be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons… With friends old and new relying on her, can Tilly save the Christmas party?

I enjoyed this story. Tilly does have a boyfriend but something is off about him. I didn;t like him . Tilly's sister treats her like crap and then she has a change of heart and starts being nice. I really liked Tilly and Seth and Tilly's friends. I found this to be like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

I received this from NetGalley and Bookouture,

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved this series so much and this one certainly didn't let me down at all you were laughing at times and crying the next and has you hooked from the beginning. Brilliant,y well written and you just want to keep reading. Full of friendship and romance and how you can pull together to get what you want. It's based about a beautful seaside village and so heartwarming. Also about families and pulling together for the best of the family. It's a great read and I was hooked and of course plenty about Christmas as well and just want to be curled up in front of the fire when you read it.
Tilly is an internal designer and is transforming the cafe room into a Christmas function room to hold a party. At the party it's going to be full of friends and families and people decairing their love, a proposal and a pregnancy announcement so can she get the hall done in time. Especially when handsome Seth come to love in the village. He's got a child jack and she first comes across them when she sees jack going in to the sea and she races to rescue him and Seth feels he has so much to owe to her for saving his son. He's moved to start a new life with his son after his sons mother has died and he hasn't had contact with his son for years so he wants to concentrate on him. Sadly his mother has other ideas and wants to have the son herself. Tilly starts spending time with Seth and jack and gets to know them but Tilly's sister has arrived with her daughter as her relationship is over and she wants to go out for dinner with Seth so asks Tilly to arrange it. Are these to meant to be together or not. Tilly is beginning to think she has taken on to much trying to convert the room and wasn't expecting that everything would go room. She is so upset as really doesn't think she will et the room finished in time for the party but Seth comes to the rescue and provides the men who can do the work. Tilly's sister Bridget starts to get friendly with Seth but when her husband chad contacts her who is right for her and will Tilly find romance and be happy or not.
Be prepared for many laughs and romance wen you read this book.

[B.R. Maycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, can you tell I’m trying to get all the Christmas reads to you before Christmas? (Yes, I do know we’re there, really!)

So this is the story of Tilly, who I was thrilled to hear was an interior decorator (I love books that involve transforming places, especially at Christmas!) Tilly is trying to cope with her sister Bridget (who was excellently done in moving from spoilt and naggy to down to earth and back again!) Tilly is being pushed into committing further by her short term boyfriend Rufus who is hilarious in how dedicated he is to clinging onto their relationship because he’s so taken by Tilly’s character. And so was I (taken with her, that is!)! I enjoyed everything about Tilly and found myself always rooting for her as she tried to set up her sister Bridget with the newest addition to the area, racing driver Seth and his son (Bridget also has a child).

It’s claimed this is a ‘laugh out loud’ and I’d argue that it’s more of a ‘snort out loud’ read, as some of the moments totally catch you unaware. Sadly the only parts that I had to drag my eyes back to were actually those involving the cafe, but only because I really wanted to see how her and Seth were going to help Seth keep his son, since Seth’s mother was intent on taking over guardianship.

All in all, I very very much enjoyed this and have bookmarked Karen Clarke into my list of authors to continue reading. Oh and I read it as a standalone as opposed to as part of the series (I might have clicked more with the cafe, her friends and boss if I had but as I said the book had mountains more to keep me occupied!!) Thanks so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for the book in return for an honest review.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this series by Karen Clarke and I think she is very quickly becoming one of my favourites!

I love seashell cove and wish I could visit, it really feels real and as if the characters are my friends at this stage (bloody hell that sounds nuts lol) It's lovely how each book has been based on a different character and we also get to see what past characters are up to as the series continues.

Seth is the newcomer to seashell cove, he is a single father and to be honest he is now my favourite book boyfriend!

Tilly is an interior designer and she seems really lost and doesn't really know what she wants in life. Which is why shes dating a weirdo her father thought would be perfect for her.

The Christmas cafe is the perfect Christmassy story and the descriptions of all the lovely cakes and hot chocolates are absolutely perfect!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I love Seashell Cove! It's probably one of my favourite series - ever - and I was so excited when I saw another one was coming out! The cover is probably my favourite Christmas cover to date. I LOVE the use of the huge Christmas pudding, the snow, the presents - it's all so cute and pretty! I've also been really eager to read about Tilly, she's been a character in the past novels that I've liked and been interested in. As with all Karen's other books, it's funny throughout, it's engaging, and just written beautifully!

I've been so looking forward to Tilly's story and her story didn't disappoint. If this novel doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit then I don't know what will! What I will say, is that it's not as festive as what I thought it would be, there's a few mentions of Christmas baking and a paragraph or so on decorating a tree but not much else festive happens - even the Christmas Eve Party wasn't described that much! However, the overall story was wonderful and enjoyable to read - so I couldn't give it less than 5 stars!

I liked Tilly's character. She's a no-nonsense kinda gal and I love that about her. She's not overly interested in what she looks like, she prefers to stick to jeans and trainers rather than a dress and isn't that interested in a career or money. I also loved Seth's character, at first I thought he was probably too good to be true but he ended up being a nice guy and I loved his son Jack and Tilly's sisters daughter Romy's friendship - so cute! And I loved Digby of course.

I loved, loved, loved being back in Seashell Cove, as always Karen's style of writing keeps you hooked to the story until the very last page. I'm so sad that the Seashell Cove series is over. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we are at the final instalment of the Seashell Cove series. Readers of my blog might know that I wasn’t too keen about Cassies story, but that the lovely Meg swept me of my feet. So let’s see if Tilly could warm my hearth.
In the last instalment of the Seashell Cove serie we follow Tilly. In the previous novels she always felt like the wild child of the trio. And when we meet her in the first few chapters of the book that image is confirmed. Tilly doesn’t really know what to do with her life. Everybody expects her to behave like a grown up, but what does that mean? I loved Tilly’s free spirit. She has a warm and gentle hearth and wants to please the people she loves. But in doing so she sometimes seems to forget that she is the one who has to life her live and become happy. I really enjoyed spending time in Tilly’s head. But and it pains me to say this, that is where the enjoyment pretty much stopped.
The overall story is pretty predictable. From the very first minute that Tilly meets Seth and his wonderful son it is crystal clear where the story is going to take you. And I have no problem with that what so ever. I read these books for the smouldering romance, so no complaints there. But… and this is a major but then I should actually feel the romance. Tilly and Seth had zero chemistry or maybe that was just me missing it all because I was so annoyed with what an ass Seth was. Seth is one of the least manly man I have read about in the past few months. And when I say that it means something. Alfa men are absolutely not my cup of tea. Far from even! Cave man don’t make my heart beat faster. But has no balls on his entire body, so I just couldn’t feel Tilly being attracted to him.
Another part of the story that I disliked was the fact that Tilly just couldn’t be a strong, independent woman who made her own choices. Everything was solved for her in a convenient way. I won’t go to much in debt, because I don’t want to spoil the story for you. But she can’t just get out of a relationship because she is unhappy. No, the guy turns out to be a lunatic and that is why she gets out. What is wrong with a woman standing up for herself and just saying this doesn’t make me happy so I am going to let go. Another example is one of the big problems Tilly is faced with in this book. Instead of making her a strong character that solves her own problems, let’s bring a men into the story so he can save her!
And the last of my complaints this book might be titled The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove, don’t expect to be blown away by all the Christmas cheer in this story. Tilly’s story could have taken place in any time of the year if you ask me. Only in the last 10 pages Christmas takes a prominent role. If course for fans of the series that won’t really matter, but I was a little disappointed. I was really looking forward to explore Seashell Cove during the holiday season. But no, don’t go dreaming about luscious descriptions of fairy lights in the village or wonderfully scented Christmas baking’s, because they are hardly there.
I think I can safely say that this series was a bit of a disappointment for me. The writing is good and the overall storylines are fun and entertaining, although very predictable. But I really disliked a lot of the characters and really missed character development. But if you are a fan of the previous books I think you will enjoy this last instalment of the series.

Thank you for the ARC netgally!

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I read The Bakery at Seashell Cove earlier this year and fell in love with the characters so I was very excited to return! While this is the 3rd book in the series they can be read as standalones and in any order (I haven't read the first book yet).

Tilly's friends are all loved up and she is in her first 'grown up' relationship but it's quite obvious she's not that happy with the relationship. Instead she is focusing her time on renovating the Cafe which she absolutely loves. The only problem is things keep going wrong and with a deadline looming she's worried she will let everyone down. I really liked Tilly. I could easily see myself being her friend.

Seth, oh what a man. I instantly fell for Seth. He's attractive, kind and just wants to be a good dad to his little boy Jack. Yes he's made some mistakes but no one is perfect.

This book is full of Christmas cheer, romantic moments and gives you a that feel good feeling. There were some real laugh out loud moments as well as some heart warming elements between Tilly and her sister. Karen does an excellent job of making this book about more than just the romance. There are elements of friendship, family relationships and career decisions too.

I loved being back at Seashell Cove and I can't wait to return when I catch up with Cassie's story.

[Monica Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful story about Tilly, her sister, her friends and a man called Seth.

I am a big fan of chick lit, something I read inbetween the gritty thrillers which I also enjoy, and this is one of the best examples of the genre that I have come across in a while.

Tilly has a good eye for interior design, although she has no formal qualifications in that direction. She picks up some work for friends, she thinks about what else she would like to do, and her life just chugs along at a steady pace, without anything much disrupting it. Enter Seth, who is making a life for himself in Tilly's village but who is still adjusting to hands-on fatherhood. Their first meeting is rather spectacular and before too long, Seth seems to pop up in all sorts of unexpected places. What happens with their friendship is so heart-warming, it made even MY old, cynical heart melt :)

Poor old Tilly has some work to do on her local cafe, but she is being let down by the tradies and as she is on a tight deadline, the stress starts to build. Inbetween, she has to contend with her sister who has come home with her toddler after a blip in her relationship. Their shared history is less than wonderful, in a way that sometimes happens with siblings, especially when there is a large age gap. She also has to deal with Rufus, her boyfriend of just over a month, who is pushing her to attend his brother's wedding - but what are his real reasons for this, exactly?

This book was just wonderful, really. Go and do yourself a favour and read it :)

5 stars, would give it more if I could! And would absolutely read a sequel, if there happens to be one....

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Frenchorchidea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final installment in the Seashell cove series. This time we learn all about the character of Tilly who is living from little interior design jobs. This time she has been asked to renovate the Seashell Cove little café which won't be as easy as expected. In the meantime she meet a beautiful and famous man while saving his young son from drowning into the sea. I found this book quite entertaining, fun and full of events and romance. Tilly is trying to work out what a real relationship with a man should feel and look like. She hasn't had a real relationship with a man so far. In my opinion this last book from the Seashell Cove series is not the best installment of the 3, but I still enjoyed it a lot! Can't wait to see what Karen Clarke will come up with for her next book!

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.blogspot.com.

My rating: 4.5 Stars

Tilly is a woman without a job. But, she certainly has a passion for interior designing. Currently she is renovating at the café in the picturesque sea town of Seashell Cove and is under all sorts of pressure. Meanwhile she runs into Seth Donovan, former race car driver. She manage to save his young son and he is indebted to her. On the home front, Tilly is dating Rufus. At thirty years of age, she truly wonders if this could possibly be her first "real relationship". Also, Tilly's sister, Bridget, and little niece are now living back at home.

Tilly learns very quickly that although Seth really wants to repay her for saving his son, that she herself has some saving to do. What she proposes to do to help Seth is genuinely kind, even if it means the man who possibly may have snagged her heart might never, ever be hers. All the while, Seth likes Tilly very much. However, he must contend with his role as a father and with his overbearing mother.

The relationships explored in this book are warm and endearing. We are privy to the difficulties that fatherhood brings to Seth and why. We also watch the difficult relationship between Tilly and Bridget ride so many waves. With their age difference and circumstances, as well as the fact that Seth is now in both of their lives, there is the firm question as to whether or not the sisters can actually ever become friends. Lastly, the relationship between Tilly and her friends is absolutely wonderful. They have found love and fulfillment in their lives, and watching the three women together is touching and rewarding.

The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a wonderfully sweet romance story. Both Tilly and Seth are truly endearing characters and I could not help but to be drawn to both of them. There is a lot of angst and pressure as to whether or not Tilly and Seth will ever find a way to each other. The hurdles they face are numerous. Despite this, the story had quite a few humorous moments and I actually found myself giggling more than once. The comic relief in this book was Gwen, the Café owner. What a hoot! On the flip side, there was Felicity, Seth's mother. The tit-for-tat between Tilly and Felicity was quite fun, despite the seriousness of the situation facing Seth and his son.

Not only did this story flow really well, but it pulled on my heartstrings. Ultimately, this is happy story with a delightfully happy ending. This is the third in the Seashell Cove series, of which I had the pleasure of reading the second book. Each story, however, does well as a standalone, but certainly do not hesitate to grab up this entire series and find an enjoyable few days devouring each title.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Seashell Cove and want to live there. I want Meg, Tilly and Cassie as my best friends. I previously read The Bakery at Seashell Cove and knew I had to read the next book in the series. The book was a fun read and revolves around Tilly. I loved Tilly and felt bad that no one seemed to have faith that she would get the function room ready on time. Her sister was her worst critic and was obviously jealous of Tilly.

Tilly promises to have the new function room ready at café by Christmas Eve. Unfortunately Tilly runs into a few unforeseen problems- a leak, mismatched floorboards and an electrician with a broken arm. Tilly's also having her first grown-up relationship with a man named Rufus. Rufus is definitely an odd character. He wants to be called Roo and is desperate for Tilly to be his date at his brother's wedding. Then there's Bridget, Tilly's older sister. She showed up at home with her three year old daughter Romy. Bridget doesn't seem to like Tilly very much and constantly puts her down. Tilly happens to meet Seth when she saves his son from drowning in the ocean. Of course Meg, Cassie and the always delightful Gwen make appearances.

Loved the story, characters and writing style. It's a perfect read for the holidays. Honestly, I pretty much guessed how the story was going to play out as soon as Tilly met Seth. I stilled enjoyed it. I absolutely LOVE Gwen and her innuendos. She singes her eyebrows off and doesn't even bat an eye, just colors them green and red for the holidays. She still loves her cat Dickens. Rufus was a creep fellow. Not sure how vandalism can be seen as a romantic gesture. I can't wait to find out what will happen next at Seashell Cove.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous Seashell Cove books. I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Karen Clarke, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous installment of the Seashell Cove book series and perfect for getting you in the Christmas mood - whatever time of year you read it!

This book tells the story of Tilly - working at the Cafe as an interior designer, she is a people pleaser and always seems to be thinking of others before herself. She's recently started going out with Rufus, but isn't too keen on the socialising aspect of being a girlfriend and this causes a few problems for Rufus who wants her to join him at his brothers wedding. She's much happier concentrating on work and also turns out to be a bit of a hero when she rescues a young boy from the bay who she spots in trouble one day. His father, Seth, is extremely grateful and has only recently moved to the area and they begin a really sweet friendship - and he needs friends at the moment as he's dealing with a very overbearing mother who wants custody of his young son.

Seth hopes that Tilly will help him out with the revamp of his coastal home, but his mother has other ideas and somehow Tilly ends up pretending to be his sons' new nanny to help out and Tilly and Jack also form a really sweet bond! Ooh and not forgetting Digby the dog!

I loved all the characters in this one - Tilly and Seth have both had some tough issues to deal with over the years and you can see how it affects the way that they are! There's lots of humorous moments throughout along with characters growing up in front of your eyes as they finally get to see their worth, and find themselves doing what they enjoy despite criticism from others. It's amazing what can be achieved when you put yourself first!

A really enjoyable read!!

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by this author that I read and this may be needless to say that I would not read a second one if I did not think the first one was great. But I am saying it anyway : the first one was great and the second one was as wonderful.

It was nice meeting up with a lot of characters we got to know in the previous one but we were introduced to some new ones as well. Some were very nice, others not so much.

The story takes place in the days leading up to Christmas and a party where everyone is looking forward to. But the path to this big event may not be as smooth as people were hoping …

And what will Father Christmas have in store for Tilly?

A lovely, cosy and heartwarming Christmas story about love, family and friendship. It is fluently written and makes you laugh out loud but will also make you want to shed a tear.

Thanks you, Karen Clarke, Bookouture and Netgalley

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[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I love this author's books and always get a happy feeling when her newest release lands on my Kindle!

I really enjoyed this one, it was a delightful read and thoroughly enjoyable - the characters were brilliant, I loved the plot and the writing style was superb!

This book is part of a series (it is the third book) but I think it is fine to be read as a stand alone too. It is a great festive read and a most definitely will be one of my top Christmas reads this year!

I have really enjoyed my time at Seashell Cove and can't wait to see what she releases next!! Five stars from me, such a good read - I loved it!! Very highly recommended!!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christmas books and really enjoyed returning to the Café at Seashell Cove. Tilly is tasked with getting the café ready for a really special party.
She rescues Sam's son from the sea and romance blossoms between the two. They have a lot of 'baggage' to overcome and a few bumps in the road. But it's a really lovely relationship building.
The book is leading up to all the wonderful plans in the air for the party and you can feel the anticipation and magic in the air.
I can't wait to read more from Karen Clarke

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh, i didn't realize that this was a series, the last book in that series??! what?? who knew??! this cover ...totally pulled me in ...i love a Christmas read, always!! Seth (is pretty much Beth. lol!! right?!?) new to this author, Karen had a great writing style and I really look forward to more from her in the future. must read. ( :

[Shirleyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to follow

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite of the series so far. Karen Clarke has delivered a delightfully fun read. There could have been a bit more Christmas festivities for my taste, but I'm not complaining.

I love reading about all of the Seashell Cove inhabitants and look forward to more in this series. Please let the next book be about Gwen!

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a brilliant cover for the last in Karen Clarke's Seashell Cove trilogy, it's pure genius and very mouth watering and certainly puts you in a festive frame of mind. The Christmas Café at Seashell Cove is a lovely, relaxing, easy festive read packed full of humour but with also plenty of life lessons to be learnt and family intricacies to be explored for our main character Tilly. We've previously briefly heard of Tilly as she is friends with Cassie and Meg whose stories we read of in books one and two.

Now is the time for Tilly to step into the spotlight and for her to seek the happiness she feels so desperately evades her when it comes to the romance side of her life. But the same can be said for her home life as well, as her sister Bridget rubs her up the wrong way the majority of the time and Tilly feels this is unjustified. What follows is a story of friendship, love and family. It was enjoyable to read as to how Tilly navigated the various circumstances in her path and how she attempted to overcome the feelings she was drowning in seeing those close friends around her full of the joys of life where as Tilly herself felt like the spare wheel, the constant hanger on with no happy ending of their own. Or will there be?

During the summer months Tilly leads guided cliff walks around the coastal paths that led to the café at Seashelll Cove but now in the run up to Christmas she has turned her hand to interior design she has promised the Maitlands, Cassie's parents, that the new extension/function room to the café will be ready just in time for the big Christmas party which is due to be held there. Time is of the essence and Tilly doesn't want to let anyone down especially as several characters have a few surprises up their sleeves which they hope to see come to fruition on the night of the party. Tilly is not one for making promises that she can't keep and she doesn't want to let anybody down, but one thing leads to another and before she knows it she is under immense pressure to get everything finished. Will the new room be completed in time for people to enjoy the party and for those special few to find even greater happiness than they already have?

I did enjoy this aspect of the storyline as it showed Tilly was dedicated and passionate about what she was doing. She was committed to fulfilling her promise as she didn't want to let her friends down. But this wasn't the dominant storyline and I'm glad it wasn't because I don't think it could have been stretched out as one strand to make up an entire book. This was the Christmas aspect of the book, the preparation of the extension and the run up to the party, apart from that we focused on Tilly's private life and the various situations she found herself embroiled in. So I wouldn't say this was the most festive of reads that I have read this year but still there was a fairly good storyline waiting to be read within the pages.

Moving aside from Tilly's decorating skills being put to the test, we had the focus on her love life. She is dating Rufus but deep down she knows he is not the one for her but really she needed to get some courage and tell him that instead of stringing him along. But I think that came down to the fact that she was fearful of being alone when all she saw around her was couples radiating love and happiness. Still Rufus was creepy, especially with regard to his actions at the café, and when certain scenes occurred I was cheering Tilly on silently saying thank goodness. So there must have a been a different element of romance in this book and it came in the form of Seth.

Seth is newly arrived to Seashell Cove with his young son Jack. He is a retired motor car racer and quite famous in his field but Seth and Tilly's first meeting is not one they would wish to have repeated when Tilly saves Jack from the sea. Seth will be forever grateful and I could see a connection established instantly between the two. I wondered how would this be developed throughout the story and it was done so in a lovely, natural way. Not forced at all but rather things were allowed to take their course as both Tilly and Seth have been bruised in their personal lives.

I loved Seth as a character. He had been through the mill and still was going through it thanks to his pushy mother. All he really wanted to do was set up a new life for himself and his son away from prying eyes and give them time to recover and find a new direction on the next step in their life journey. I think he expected peace and quiet in Seashell Cove but he got a lot more than he bargained for and maybe he needed that to happen in order to move forward. I know I really wanted Tilly and Seth to get together but there were a lot of misunderstandings and numerous forces working against them and I questioned could they be resolved in order for them to embark on a relationship... even just a tentative one.

Some of the time I found Tilly to be a character who moaned a lot about the way she was feeling. I get characters often do this in books so we can get inside their head and heart but she seemed to do this quite often and at times I did find it irritating and I found myself swaying back and forth as to my overall opinion of her. Thankfully by the end I had a positive attitude towards her and that's partly in thanks to the storyline surrounding Tilly and her sister which I believe to be the strongest element of the book.

At the heart of everything is Tilly's difficult relationship with Bridget and I think these feelings extend into her romantic life and how she acts and feels around men. Exploring how the different perceptions of their upbringing has impacted their lives helps Bridget and Tilly to come to a better understanding of each other and if they can move forward with the family dynamics and become sisters, friends and equals than maybe Tilly can do the same when it comes to her love life. Solve the problems at home on your doorstep first and then it's just possible the more wider, far reaching issues can then be looked at and resolved.

Bridget grated on my nerves the way she treated her daughter Romy, and in turn how she treated Tilly, as if she could never go near or look after her precious child. Romy wasn't a bit like that and had a fabulous personality of her own which I believed in some ways Bridget was trying to suppress. Bridget needed to relinquish control and let others help. But both herself and Tilly needed to look to the past before anything for the better could occur in the present. Having already said Tilly moaned a lot she did of course have some good traits as well which came to the fore the further I progressed through the book. She did try and bring out the best in people, by trying to make them happy, by doing the right thing at the right time and it was lovely to see how she went about this. She was a divisive character for me but I did enjoy watching her grow and change on her journey.

To discover whether she finds solutions to her family and love life problems or will the function room even be ready in time you'll have to pick up this book to find out the answers. The Christmas Cafe at Seashell Cove was a nice, quick read, easy to dip in and out of at a very busy time of year. Karen Clarke has a new series coming in March starting with Escape to the Little French Café which I am looking forward to reading already.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly has been tasked with decorating the new room at the cafe in Seashell Cove but it has got to be done in time for the Christmas party........ and it is going to be quite a party going by the secrets she had been told......... and they are all relying on her! Then there is her social life, deep down she knows her relationship is going nowhere....... but what about the lovely Seth who has moved to the Cove with his son Jack?

Another lovely story about Seashell Cove it's great to be back with all the old favourites but also good to find out Tilly's story and sad that this is the last one..... definitely a series worth reading

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Tilly’s story: Tilly the happy-go-lucky, drifting from one ‘thing’ to another with a flair for decoration. Tilly has always been different from her best friends Cassie and Meg: by the time she was born, her father was eminently successful, her sister was resentful of losing her place in the family, and Tilly didn’t experience the financial struggles her friends had. Now returned from her family’s relocation to Canada, and with her sister and toddler daughter back at home for ‘a break’, an extension on the Café that is to be opened for a party on Christmas Eve and a ‘boyfiend’ her first ‘adult relationship’ in her life – she’s got plenty to keep her busy. The work on the extension is backed up due to a burst pipe, and only a few days are left to get things done. Dating Rufus is making her increasingly uncomfortable, he’s demanding more commitment from her – and pushing her into uncomfortable situations. Her best friends Cassie and Meg are both ‘in love’ and happy- and her sister Bridget is busily applying all of her control freak tendencies to her two year old daughter Romy, while never missing an opportunity to snipe at Tilly and her ‘lack of”. Meanwhile, Tilly is completely obsessed with not breaking her promise to have the function room complete and ready for the party – even as she’s hitting roadblocks left and right, and isn’t completely comfortable with the brusqueness and manner of Gwen – now managing the café as Cassie’s parents are on holiday.

An escape walk along the beach leads to Tilly’s diving in the icy water to save a young boy who went in after his dog – an interesting first impression of good parenting from his father, the gorgeous Seth. A former Formula One driver, Seth has purchased a small cottage to live with his son as he tries to bond with the little boy who seems, to Tilly, cloaked in sadness. Seth is trying his best with his fear of rejection keeping him from pushing his son, Jack, into closer quarters. In the midst of a nasty custody battle with his mother, who uses his former career and his history with women after divorcing his son’s mother as a bludgeon – she’s judgmental, sharp, controlling and utterly intimidating Seth- as he’s desperately ceding ground in order to keep Jack with him. With his attraction to , and perceived debt for saving his son, Seth likes Tilly, and the feeling is mutual. But, aside from being kind and mostly happy, Tilly is also completely unselfish – thinking that Seth and her sister would be perfect together – and perhaps that would make things better between them.

Clarke does a lovely job of exploring difficult issues with characters who have long played background roles in their own lives. Tilly has the ability to bring laughter, peace and sunshine into the lives she touches, yet rarely thinks of her own desires. Everyone knows that they can rely on her for anything, as long as that anything doesn’t involve her finding just how marvelous she is. This is the book where Tilly learns just how strong, capable and important she is to both Seth, her sister and her friends – and along the way discovers some simple truths about herself: she won’t allow those she cares for to be hurt, and she’ll always go out of her way, in every situation to do what she thinks is best. When she dumps Rufus (far too long after he vandalized the function rooms of the café to ‘make a statement’, she’s more angry than hurt, and learned that her unease with Rufus is a complete contrast to the comfort she feels with Seth – even with his harridan of a mother lurking around every corner. With the multiple events planned for Christmas eve – from a wedding to a snogging to an announcement of a baby to come, the return of her niece’s father, her parents from holiday and new romance, the story is far more one of finding yourself and your happiness – and fits with the others in the series seamlessly, All the characters from earlier books are here, the atmosphere is Christmassy with treats from the bakery and heartfelt emotional moments making this a series and little town you want to exist in.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tilly is working at the local Café overseeing the renovations on the extension. Nothing is going to plan and she is up against a tight deadline of Christmas Eve. To add to her stress her elder sister has temporarily moved back home with her young daughter and her boyfriend is pressuring her into making more of a commitment to her relationship. The last thing she needed was to get dragged into the lives of Seth Donovan and his son Jack.
Tilly spends a lot of her time doubting herself thanks to her elder sister Bridget. She had resented her coming along and always seems to make snide comments about her lack of career or direction in her life. She also seemed to spend a lot of her time trying to please everyone and at times I wanted to tap her up the side of her head for it. I did however give a small cheer when she finally ditched her boyfriend Rufus who was not as nice as she had initially thought he was. It was nice to see the relationship between Tilly and Bridget change and improve over the course of the story and rather that it happening suddenly it was more gradual as you would expect over the course of time when they spent an increasing amount of time in each other’s company.
I did fell a little bit sorry for Seth and Jack. Seth’s ex-wife had kept them apart before her death and due to his career as a racing driver he had left the care of his son to his mother. Now determined to make up for this he has given up racing and bought a house for them to live in. He is struggling to bond with his son and constantly doubts his ability to raise him alone and this belief is fuelled by his mother who believes that Jack should be in boarding school and under her care. Despite never having really been around children Tilly manages to show him that he can cope with anything life throws at him and that includes standing up to his mother.
The other person that had me chuckling throughout the book was the café manager Gwen. She is quite gruff at times but you just can’t help but like her.
I haven’t read any of the other books in the Seashell Cove series but to be honest it really doesn’t matter as it works really well on its own as the characters are well rounded and thoroughly relatable. Although billed as a Christmas book it’s more a reference to the time of year it is set in than an all-out Christmas celebration and for me that’s a big plus as it will appeal to both the ardent Christmas lover and those like me that can take it or leave it. Any book that can actually start to get me in the Christmas spirit even a little bit is certainly one to read.

[Erika Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first for me by this author but won't be my last.

Interior designer Tilly Campbell loves being carefree and single. But her latest job is redecorating the cosy local café for a Christmas party, and when her friends confess their plans for the big night – including a proposal, a declaration of love and a pregnancy announcement – Tilly starts to wonder if she might be missing out…
Transforming the café into a winter wonderland is more of a challenge than she thought, so when Tilly manages to avert a potential tragedy involving Seth's adorable son Jack, she welcomes the distraction.
Seth promises to make it up to Tilly and feels he owes her anything, so Tilly requests that he 'date' her sister, Bridget who has showed up with her daughter after a relationship break-up.

Seth is a newly single father, who has just moved to town with his 6 year old son Jack, after the passing of Jack's mother. Seth hasn't had much contact with Jack over the years so wants to concentrate on him and be a good dad, but his own mother has other idea's and interferes too much.
Seth is struggling to settle his son Jack into their new cottage, but Tilly is determined to help them make their house into a home in time for Christmas.

Tilly and Seth strike up a friendship that just feels so genuine and sweet with Tilly still believing Seth is feeling indebted to her. Why else would he be insistent on helping her out wherever possible. As it happens however, Tilly is more helpful to Seth especially when it comes to dealing with his unconventional mother, Felicity.

I found myself chuckling whenever Tilly and Felicity came up against one another and I thought Tilly stood her ground rather well.

But with the café still in chaos just days before the party it looks like it’s going to be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons… With friends old and new relying on her, can Tilly save the Christmas party? With Seth's help... just maybe she can!!

Will Tilly finally find love waiting under the mistletoe? You'll have to read this heart-warming and hilarious book to find out!

A heart-warming, hilarious read about friendship, family and the meaning of Christmas.

I now need to search out the rest of series and let myself get swept away as I did with this book.

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.