Ein Sommerhaus in Cornwall

by Debbie Johnson, Nikolas Schmidt (Translator)

Pippa hat alle Hände voll zu tun, seit sie nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern deren Farm, die Ferienhausvermietung und die Verantwortung für ihre jüngeren Geschwister übernommen hat. An ein Date hat Pippa schon seit Langem nicht einmal mehr gedacht. Doch dann spaziert Ben Retallick auf den Hof und fragt nach einer Unterkunft, und sofort ist Pippa klar: Für diesen Mann lohnt es sich definitiv, die Gummistiefel wieder einmal gegen etwas Schickeres zu tauschen und vielleicht sogar eine Sommerromanze zu riskieren. Doch Bens Vergangenheit droht sie einzuholen, und Pippa muss ihre Gefühle in den Griff bekommen.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Family, Summer, Contemporary, Womens Fiction

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2015

About the author

Debbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.

She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.

Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.

She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really loved the main character. It was an easy read.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pippa has a busy life. She has to take care of three young children and a teenager who's a handful. Besides that she also has a farm to run. She has turned it into holiday homes and because money is tight she's become quite handy. Because she's so busy she doesn't have time for a personal life. Her days aren't always easy, but when her parents passed away she couldn't let her siblings go into foster care while she could keep them together. She manages, but it's a tough job to do on her own.

Ben is one of Pippa's guests. He's booked the cottage to get away and write in peace. He's just out of prison and has a book deal. He's the country's most celebrated criminal as he spent time in jail for something heroic. In his opinion it was stupid, but he couldn't control himself. His whole life changed in a few minutes and he isn't ready to start living again. There's a strict rule against love for example. He doesn't do that anymore, he doesn't want his heart to be broken a second time. Only then he meets Pippa and they discover they have a brief and very funny history which immediately breaks the ice. Pippa and Ben are both adults who are both looking for some good sex and they find comfort with each other, but is that all there is?

Pippa's Cornish Dream is a book about two people who don't have an easy past. They instantly like each other and there's a lot of lust involved as well. Gradually their relationship evolves. It was great to watch that and I think Debbie Johnson has done such an amazing job with both the chemistry and the consistency of the love scenes. Each one means a little bit more than the one before. Pippa's family life is chaotic, but her siblings are really sweet. Her brother keeps getting into trouble and even though he messes up he's endearing.

I loved reading about the Cornish countryside and farm life. The animals have their own lovely characters and they give the story a more personal touch. I think Pippa's Cornish Dream is such a perfect romantic read. Everything is exactly right and because of the difficult pasts of both of the main characters the story gets a bit of extra depth. I liked the complete package and highly recommend this book to anyone who's looking for a great, sexy, fun and sweet read.

[Karschtl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sterne

Der Einstieg in die Geschichte war sehr erfrischend. Wir begegnen sofort den beiden Protagonisten Pippa (habe ich sofort ins Herz geschlossen) und Ben (scheint ein netter und vor allem attraktiver Kerl zu sein), samt sonstigen Lebewesen des Bauernhofes. Ein gemütliches Setting, das mich irgendwie etwas an die Mary Scott Romane erinnert hat die ich in den 90ern gern mal gelesen habe.

Leider fehlte im Mittelteil dann etwas Handlung. Plötzlich befinden wir uns schon Wochen später, und in wenigen Sätzen wird zusammengefasst was sich seitdem ereignet hat (eh nicht viel). Da hätte sich Debbie Johnson ruhig die Mühe machen können um uns einige Dates von Pippa und Ben zu schildern. Mit 256 Seiten ist das Buch eh an der äußersten Untergrenze von dem was ich noch "Roman" nennen würde.

Doch richtig gestört hat mich dann die seitenlange Selbstkasteiung von Pippa und Ben wie idiotisch sie sich doch jeweils verhalten haben. Dieses Lamentieren mittels innerem Dialog (wiedergegeben von einem auktorialen Erzähler übrigens, keine Ich-Perspektive!) ging mir eindeutig zu lang und war nur gespickt mit Wiederholungen. Schade, das hat den Level für mich doch etwas heruntergezogen.

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sweet little story - there wasn't a lot of angst - but what there was made my heart go out to Ben and Pippa. Sometimes life can be quite a trial but you can't always tell someone is having a drama. Like when you see a duck serenely moving across the water - what you don't see is its little feet paddling furiously to keep the smooth journey going. Well Ben and Pippa had a lot of paddling to do to look like their lives were normal.

[Bookworman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. A bit too trashy novel for me. However, Johnson wrote this before her awesome Comfort Food Cafe series so, like Jenny Colgan’s earlier works, not in the same league as her later, vastly improved writing.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charming feel-good romance from Debbie Johnson.

Pippa gave up her dreams of Oxford to look after her siblings and her parents' holiday rental business after they were killed in a car accident when she was only 18 years old. Three years later she is shocked to find that her latest guest is a crush from when she was 7 years old, but Ben has a secret that he is trying to hide from her.

Ben might have a secret but he's gorgeous looking, helps out with the children and the farm and doesn't mind getting his fancy city clothes all mucky - what more could a woman want?

Debbie Johnson weaves romance, tragedy, comedy and angst so easily that this book felt more like a novella, I could easily have read more about Ben and Pippa's romance.

[Paula Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. A quirky little read, I loved all the animal names like spongebob and Harry Potter. A nice little touch. By the end of the book Pippa felt like a Friend I was routing for. Could definitely see where a follow up could happen.

[Zarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...

Pippa Harte is just 21 years-old yet she carries the responsibility of a big farm with animals, a teenager always getting in trouble, twin girls that have their own secret language, and a little boy who is desperate for comfort and cuddles.

Why, you might ask? Pippa's parents died in a car accident a few years prior and the brood of children are her younger siblings. But being a single parent to four kids, managing a farm and the holiday cottages that belong to it, not to mention Harry Potter, SpongeBob, Ben 10, Phineas and Ferb, and the rest of the assorted animals, take up all of Pippa's time and energy, and so she doesn't have space for any distractions in her life or taking care of herself and her own needs.

When Ben Retallick arrives as a temporary guest to one of the cottages, Pippa's routine is turned upside down and she realises that perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing for a man to enter her life and crowded home. However, when the baggage from Ben's past comes back to haunt the both of them they each have a difficult choice to make.

I do love cute, countryside novels and the title and cover for Pippa's Cornish Dream was just the right type of twee for my liking. It was a shame then that the story within didn't live up to my expectations. One moment it was sweet yet the next almost crude, and for all the back-and-forth in Pippa's decisions it remained incredibly predictable until the very end.

That isn't to say that there wasn't anything to enjoy within the pages, because there certainly was. Pippa's little sisters and youngest brother were adorable, and every scene that involved one of their animals was an absolute joy. The storyline of Pippa's teenage brother Patrick was also a particular highlight as he went through his tortured journey within the novel.

Unfortunately it was Pippa's own story and that of love interest Ben that let this book down. It felt messy and all over the place, almost like a first draft rather than a finished novel, and because it was quite short to begin with there was little space for proper character growth; the reader couldn't really get to know these characters nor understand their motivations along the way.

For the most part Pippa's Cornish Dream was as cute and sweet as you'd expect, but there was little depth to the story and it read like a fantasy by Pippa rather than something more realistic and relatable.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Pippa lost her parents, she found herself looking after her brothers and sisters, social workers,a farm and holiday rentals rather than studying at Oxford. She has a lot on her plate- her teenage brother has gone off the rails a bit and she dreads every phonecall.

When one of the holidaymakers arrives early, he seems familiar. He seems a bit aloof, even though he is stunning!!!!

This book is full of everything-romance, family dynamics, teenage rebels, the Cornish coast and the farm characters. THe characters are drawn so that you feel you know them and care about them. You feel for Pippa- who hasn't had a boyfriend since she took over the care of her siblings. Ben has taken her heart- but can they see the way forward or get over the past?

It makes you want to go and book a holiday rental and visit the local coves!

With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book.

[Annabelle Guthrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to it. While I did laugh out loud at some sections, I found it very predictable and slightly unrealistic, and some sections were very long and drawn out. A good read if you are looking for a light hearted and easy to read romance story, but not the best one out there

[Buchforscherin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine schöne Liebesgeschichte eingebettet in einem ländlichen Rahmen. Überraschenderweise nicht so schmalzig wie befürchtet und auch die amourösen Szenen halten sich in der Detailgestaltung im Rahmen.
Wer eine schöne Geschichte sucht, die nicht nur aalglatt daher kommt, wird hier voll auf seine Kosten kommen.

[Mandy Baggot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant countryside read that kept me turning the pages. I adored Pippa and Ben and fell in love with the children and the animals too! Short, sweet and simply perfect!

[Samantha Chick Lit & Hot Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, its super short and sweet – the perfect book for a train ride or if you’re stuck in the car for a few hours.
I do believe books, especially chick-lit books should come with a trigger or content warning. We all read them for the escapism they offer but sometimes the themes can be quite upsetting so for full transparency I will include the key topics here. TW: death of parents, threat of social services, prison & GBH.
This lovely story tracks Pippa and her siblings, who she is single-handedly raising on an amazing farm in Cornwall, specialising in holiday cottages. Ben Retallick, infamous bad-boy lawyer walks into one of the cottages and into Pippa’s life. Its a joyful story of romance and learning to put your trust in others again. Uplifting and heart-warming, I would have loved to see Debbie Johnson do a follow up book so we could revisit this wonderful couple.

[monica ♪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Pippa’s Cornish Dream
Series: Stand alone
Author: Debbie Johnson
Release Date: July 2nd 2015
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Cliffhanger: No
Writing Style: Third person POV
HEA: Yes

MY REVIEW

After Pippa Harte lost her parents, she’s forced to be a big sister and mother for her siblings. Not only is she raising 4 children by herself, she is also taking care of her parent’s farm. Then suddenly a man from her past back into her life with all of his issues and change Pippa and her family’s life.

This book is really easy to get into. I always love a story with a strong heroine. And Pippa really is a strong woman. She’s raising 4 children when she’s literally still a kid herself. Giving up her big dream to study in Oxford and taking care of her only family by herself.
This book teaches us about the value of family
But it’s so enjoyable read because it’s not a heavy kind of story. It’s funny, even
I love the kids and how they name their animals with cute names like SpongeBob, Harry Potter, etc

I love how strong Pippa is to handle all the cruel that is life. This book also teaches us to accept people the way they are. Ben made a big mistake in the past but Pippa still accepts him anyway because it’s just how a love is

I don’t usually enjoy a third person POV books, but I really enjoy this book. It’s a perfect summer read!
And it’s pretty short too. If you have lot of time in your hand in a day, I’m sure you can finish it in one sitting. Because I couldn’t put this book down too. I read this everywhere, on the way to work and even when I was in the dentist.

I wish there were more appearance of Scotty, though. Because he is super cute!!　


I’m glad that I could read this book in advance. Thanks to the publisher for providing me the ARC. I really like this book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Debbie Johnson released her first HarperImpulse novel I LOVED it. Not only because the heroine in Cold Feet At Christmas had the best name ever (hint: MY NAME) but because it was a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Since then Debbie's released a few books, but the only other one I've read was Fear No Evil, which I LOVED (and I am still pining for a sequel Debbie - I WANT A SEQUEL, PLEASE). I've been meaning to read Pippa's Cornish Dream for ages, so when I spotted the paperback at the library, I had no more excuses and I couldn't wait to get stuck in!

Pippa's Cornish Dream is one of those novels where I feel like I've read the book before. Rest assured, I haven't, but there was just something awfully familiar about it, not that I could put my finger on what it was. I knew very quickly I would enjoy this novel, especially since Pippa's first act is to unclog a clogged toilet, and then do a victory dance, complete with toilet brush which is AMAZING. Then Ben rescued a cow. ALSO AMAZING. That basically sealed the deal for me and I knew it was going to be a fun read, helped by Pippa's amazing siblings, who added some welcome fun to the party.

Everyone knows I want to live in Cornwall. It literally sounds like heaven on Earth. The sea, lovely weather (or, rather, better weather than the rest of the UK combined), gorgeous views, cliffs, CORNISH ice cream, it's just perfect, and the setting was one again magnificent in Pippa's Cornish Dream. It was delightful. Cornwall settings just make me sigh with pleasure, it's a little bit like coming home. This book literally have everything I loved in a book - farmyard animals, all named after characters like SpongeBob, Harry Potter, etc; character you downright adore and can't wait to get together, I'm looking at you Pippa and Ben; and the most delightful setting of Cornwall.

I really loved Pippa's Cornish Dream, it was such a delightful read, and I whizzed through it. There were a few dark topics, although what Ben did deserves a frigging medal, not what he got, but that's just my personal opinion; but on the whole it was a wonderful, light novel. I can't wait to devour Never Kiss A Man In A Christmas Jumper (what a title) and The Birthday That Changed Everything. Debbie really is one of the rising stars of the Chick Lit world, and I love her writing so, so much.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pippa suffered a tragedy very young, and has become sole carer for her younger siblings, as well as a farm, and taking in holiday renters for a piece of rural life. She is continually being run ragged and barely has a second to herself, let alone enough time to think about dating.

That is until Ben Retallick walks back into her life, and there is a connection between Pippa and Ben instantly, But Ben has a recent dark past, and is really in Cornwall for rest and relaxation, and not really wanting anything to happen with any female, for the time being.

I loved Pippa's family, from Patrick the troublesome almost adult, to the twins that speak their own secret language, to the youngest, who is 4, and was only a baby when their parents died, and then there is the menagerie of animals, who the children in the family have named.

I loved the first scene where Ben walks back into Pippa's life, and she is currently unblocking a toilet, as is common for her glamorous life! Once she recognises him, he eventually recalls who Pippa is. There is a bit of an age gap between them, and it was an unrequited crush of Pippa's back when she was 8, that led to a duck pond incident (which is very funny when read in full).

There is a lovely light hearted sense of humour throughout this book, and it is a very enjoyable story. It was very uplifting to see Pippa, who had barely had a boyfriend, come out of her shell in the presence of Ben, and become a full on woman, who although still dealing with her priorities, was finding more and more time to spend with Ben.

Pippa's Cornish Dream is a wonderful summery book, full of fun and frolics.

Thank you very much Debbie, for the chance to review your new book. This was my honest opinion.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

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I warmed to Pippa, as she braved the battle with the blocked toilet and won. Life isn't easy for this courageous young woman and she certainly deserves something good in her life, just for her. Ben definitely fits the bill.

'Pippa's Cornish Dream' is full of humour; self depreciating and purely comical mixed in with poignant memories and everyday anecdotes, familiar to anyone who lives with small children or teenagers. The setting; a farm with holiday cottages, in coastal Cornwall is the perfect backdrop for a story whose sentiments echo 'The Darling Buds of May'. In adversity the family sticks together and newcomers are welcomed, despite their emotional baggage.

This is an easy story to read and truly addictive. I read it in a few hours. The imagery is vivid; I could envisage the characters and what happened to them as I read. The angst and realism interwoven into this sweet story, stop it from being a fairy tale romance but make it the perfect 21st century love story.
I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

Debbie Johnson

[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 the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I was lucky enough to interview Debbie as part of HI Fortnight and I was thrilled when she offered this book for review. I had previously read Cold Feet at Christmas and loved it.

This book starts with Pippa having an independant woman moment which I found hilarious. Pippa is holding it together by a thread. She is loveable, brave and strong. Pippa has given up so much for her family. Pippa thought she had put her feelings on hold until the children were older. That is until Ben appears in her life.

Ben, oh ben. Ben is  a hottie, but he is damaged and full of guilt. He  swore never to fall in love with anyone again, not after Joanna.

I loved Pippa's family,  the twins and scotty are such cute children. Patrick is your typical teenager but with a bit more anger at the world.

This story is well written and has you turning page after page. It is the perfect summer read whether your out on your balcony (like me) or by a pool ( like I was wishing)

and I can't wait to read more of Debbie's books in the future.

[Pippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this story includes a family featured in the Comfort Food Cafe series, this pre-dates them and is one of her earlier books. I hadn't realised when I began reading it and found it lacking when compared to the CFC collection and other titles by this author. It is still an okay read but as a writer it is evident that her skills have improved significantly since she wrote this and it is probably a good thing that this was not my first by DJ as I might have missed out on some good reading.

[Jane Linfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fab book from Debbie Johnson. Brilliant writing, and a lovely story that unfolds around a wonderful cast of characters. A perfect mix of poignance, down to earth reality, and fun, all set against truly evocative locations. Lots of laugh out loud moments, in a fast read (I couldn't put it down once I'd started) with satisfying depth, giving a great taste of summer and Cornwall. Loved it.

[Lindsay Harkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

The thing that happens when you see $0.99 for a kindle book the day before a trip and think oh Cornwall is pretty how bad can it be....well it can be pretty bad - horribly written romance novel that barely describes the beautiful Cornwall landscape. Blugh

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this will they, won't they storyline of Pippa and Ben. Great characters with a bit of tragedy thrown in. A happy ending and set in Cornwall - what is there not to like.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved Debbie's comfort food cafe books, but found this difficult to get into.

For a 21 year old who's had to grow up pretty quickly, Pippa seemed rather immature and clueless at times.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous premise

Silly ridiculous premise of a story line. I couldn't even finish this book and was bored out of my mind. Wouldn't recommend.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pippa's Cornish Dream has to have one of the nicest covers I have seen this summer. Warm, bright, colourful and attractive, it's instantly eyecatching and once you have read the book you see how it ties in so well with everything that happens throughout what proved to be a surprisingly delightful read. Sometimes it's the books you expect the least from that you get the most enjoyment from and that's what happened with me here. This is Debbie Johnson's second novel following on from her Christmas release - Cold Feet at Christmas and all I can say is it is a lovely, lovely book. Just a pure pleasure to read, I couldn't put it down as there was just that special something urging me on to discover does Pippa get the happiness its evident she deserves? I flew through this in several hours as it's such a light breezy read that highlights the talents of Debbie Johnson as an author and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Right from the opening page I fell straight in love with our main character Pippa Harte. I even read the opening few paragraphs out loud for my mum as it was just so funny and I wanted someone else to appreciate what wonderfully humorous writing was in store for me. We first encounter Pippa as she is battling against a blocked toilet in Honeysuckle Cottage. This is one war she is determined to win as she gains pleasure from overcoming whatever daily obstacles the business and family life throw at her. Life has not been especially kind to Pippa. She is still very young and has had to become old before her time as her parents were killed in a car crash. This left Pippa is sole charge of her four siblings - Patrick now a teenage tearaway who never got over the loss of his parents and uses rebelling and causing mayhem as a form of expressing his feelings. Delightful 9 year old twins Daisy and Lily and 4 year old Scotty. The three younger children need Pippa the most and life is a constant juggling act of school runs, washing, storytelling and not to mention maintaining the three holidays cottages. Oh and not to forget the crazy bunch of animals resident on the farm, all of whom have been given ludicrous, playful names by the children. Into the chaos steps Ben Retallick, he he has come to Honeysuckle Cottage seeking seclusion, peace and quiet. To give himself a chance to escape from both prying eyes and questions as his past is forever following him where ever he ventures. Once Ben and Pippa lock eyes over a toilet brush the course of Pippa's unpredictable life just gets that little more crazier.

Debbie Johnson sums up that instant attraction between a man and a woman just perfectly ' That magical moment between a man and a woman 'where you feel the thrill of potential the primal joy of heat calling out to heat'. The burning desire between the pair just dripped off the page and you so wanted them to get together even if just for a fling. Pippa had been through and given up so much that you wanted her to have a good time and let off some steam instead of feeling the pressures of being a mother figure 24/7. I loved how there was no messing about by the author the pair gave into their burning desires and a holiday fling ensued. Both admitting to each other they didn't want a long term thing. Ben had been left hurt in the past and Pippa had too much going on her life to commit to a long term relationship. This is what made the book different and fresh and kept the pace moving along. Too often there is so much miscommunication and dancing around skirting the issue that's there for everyone to see. This couple obviously had the hots for each other and decided to do something about it. But does the path of true love run smooth? Well does it ever in novels? No and that's what made me keep reading I don't want people getting together and staying together. I want to be kept on my toes discovering can they weather all the difficulties thrown at them. Can Ben overcome his problems from the past which were definitely major? Can Pippa open her heart to love?

Pippa is a character that I have so much respect for her. She gave up everything to look after her siblings. Adopting the mother role at only 18. All her hopes, dreams and ambitions for college and life were pushed aside and she took on a huge amount of responsibility. She deserved nothing but admiration and recognition for such a selfless act. In the beginning of the book she is in a constant state of worry over Patrick, money and the regular visits to the social worker. Her day to day life leaves little time for herself and Debbie does a fantastic job of conveying just how much Pippa has taken on and how she attempts to maintain a normal life as possible for her family. Pippa is shy and reluctant at times when the going gets tough she needs to open up that little bit more and over the course of the book we see a whole new side emerging. Although she always doubts her abilities both as a mother figure and someone to be loved yet the reader can see her potential and that she is doing a wonderful job. Her parents looking down from above would be nothing but proud of her. Pippa has no adult company, no one to talk to or seek comfort and support. So when Ben comes along that little piece inside her she kept hidden slowly starts to open with surprisingly happy results or so you would hope. Ben reawakens Pippa's lust for life and I wanted her to grab happiness with both hands and keep it firmly in her grip.

Pippa's Cornish Dream was a joy to read. We see a total transformation in a character as she navigates life and all its challenges. Ben was complicated but sure Pippa brought along her issues and additions as well and together their story was inspirational and uplifting. One thing that surprised me though was that there really wasn't that many characters throughout the book which was unusual. But it gave those that were there a chance to shine and Debbie Johnson really pulled it off where many authors can rely on background people to fill in pages. Pippa's Cornish Dream is the ideal read when you want something that is not going to tax your brain too much whilst still keeping your interest. A set of characters you are firmly invested in combined with a marvellously satisfying storyline and not to mention the stunning setting of Cornwall this book had it all. Hopefully we will hear more from Pippa in the future. I wonder what she could be getting up to at Christmas time??????

[Emily Pankhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some of Debbie's books before and enjoy the way that she writes as it is light and humorous, yet at the same time deals with serious issues.

I was gripped from the beginning and wanted to know if there would be a happy ending!

There was a good pace to the story, with all sorts of things happening! You were never bored and constantly wondering what could possibly happen next!

The characters were great. I loved the main character Pippa. She was such a strong female lead which I enjoyed and admired. The children added that extra element of uncertainty together with the social services in the background. The male lead Ben was also an interesting character and it was nice to see him build his life again after what happened to him - he was an ethical dilemma!

Lastly the settings. The story was set in a rural area in a farmhouse which was lovely and there was a feeling of escapism.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can highly recommend it to anyone wanting a light, easy, romantic read.

✨For a longer review see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/

[Susan and Nigel Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally escapist reading!

I should hate this book, it’s everything a good feminist should despise. Instead I read it cover to cover in a day! It’s boy meets girl, predictably tall dark man meets petite blonde girl, who is so beautiful because she doesn’t know it. But then the characters were well written and right now I think we all need some happy ever after.
I really like Debbie Johnson’s writing. She gives her characters the sort of lines you might secretly steal and store away for use in your actual life, if we ever have one of those again. I only took one star off for the lack of realism in the meeting with the social worker. Those meetings take place at school or at home, and they are followed up with bigger meetings with lots of professionals. But I suppose that would have slowed the progress of the story. Anyway, good story, well told. Read it!

[Beth J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I really like Debbie Johnson books. I love her characters, and this short book was filled with them. The kids were great and Ben was yummy. Pippa, the lead, was probably my least favorite. She was so unconfident and always second guessing herself. If got a bit annoying. Who cares if you live on a farm? Ben was in to her, no second guessing that. My last complaint was that there wasn’t very much Cornwall details. I wanted “Cornwall” to be one of the characters, since the name was in the title. There were a few, but really, it could have been a farm anywhere.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice. Pippa is your typical 'tough' girl who has to take care of her brothers and sisters after their parents die in a car crash, even though she is only 18 at the time herself. Ben is the handsome not- stranger staying in one of the cottages Pippa is renting out.. What follows is a cat-mouse-play in which they first boat deny having feeling for each other but where sex is okay. This phase took a bit too long for me, at some point the challenge was gone and I was just waiting for the final happy ending. All in all a nice read.

[Sharon Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely story...

A fluffy, snuggly, feel-good romance to brighten your day. This author writes with humour, wit and charm, she never disappoints with her stories and if you loved this story do give her Comfort food Cafe series a go too...from the beginning and do not miss one book... they're all fantastic and hit the fuzzy spot in your heart...thank you, Debbie, I'm looking forward to the next one 😊... 5*