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Cottages, Cakes & Crafts #5
The Bookshop by the Seaside
Bea leaves her life in Glasgow behind to become the new owner of the local bookshop by the seaside in the Scottish Highlands.
She’s welcomed into the community and joins the local sewing bee and becomes friends with the members including Ethel a knitter who spins her own yarn, Hilda a quilter, and Aurora the owner of their popular craft magazine.
Bea is a bookworm and planned to enjoy a quiet life, far from the city and her work in finance, steeped in the comforting world of the bookshop.
But this is a lively community filled with budding romances, gossip, and lots of invitations. Bea is soon invited to the wedding of Ione and Big Sam the local silversmith and bookbinder — and to have afternoon tea at the dressmaker’s cottage.
Bea meets various people including Lewis a handsome, wealthy and successful artist from one of the islands. But can she trust Lewis? Is his romantic interest in her due to his initial interest in buying the bookshop for himself? Or is there something from his past that needs to be settled?
Bea loves books, but will she fall in love with Lewis? Or is it safer to snuggle up with a cosy romance novel in the bookshop by the seaside?
She’s welcomed into the community and joins the local sewing bee and becomes friends with the members including Ethel a knitter who spins her own yarn, Hilda a quilter, and Aurora the owner of their popular craft magazine.
Bea is a bookworm and planned to enjoy a quiet life, far from the city and her work in finance, steeped in the comforting world of the bookshop.
But this is a lively community filled with budding romances, gossip, and lots of invitations. Bea is soon invited to the wedding of Ione and Big Sam the local silversmith and bookbinder — and to have afternoon tea at the dressmaker’s cottage.
Bea meets various people including Lewis a handsome, wealthy and successful artist from one of the islands. But can she trust Lewis? Is his romantic interest in her due to his initial interest in buying the bookshop for himself? Or is there something from his past that needs to be settled?
Bea loves books, but will she fall in love with Lewis? Or is it safer to snuggle up with a cosy romance novel in the bookshop by the seaside?
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2021
28 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
De-ann Black
166 books82 followersDe-ann Black's new books are: Vintage Ball, Autumn Nature Colouring Book, Autumn Ball Marriage & Music, Design, Dance & Romance, Romance Dancer, Summer Ball Weddings & Waltzing, Quilt Shop by the Seaside, Embroidery Bee, Crafting Bee, Scottish Highlands New Year Ball, Ballroom Dancing Christmas Romance, Christmas Ballroom Dancing, Autumn Romance, Knitting & Starlight, Knitting Bee, The Sweetest Waltz, Sweet Music, Love & Lyrics, Christmas Weddings, Fairytale Christmas on the Island, The Cure for Love at Christmas, Vintage Dress Shop on the Island, Scottish Island Fairytale Castle, Scottish Loch Summer Romance, Scottish Island Knitting Bee, Sewing & Mending Cottage, Knitting Shop by the Sea, Scottish Highlands Christmas Wedding, Colouring Book Cottage, Oops! I'm the Paparazzi, Again, and Knitting Cottage.
Her embroidery pattern books include: Floral Garden Embroidery Patterns, Floral Spring Embroidery Patterns, Sea Theme Embroidery Patterns, and Christmas & Winter Embroidery Patterns.
De-ann’s colouring books include: Autumn Nature, Summer Nature, Flower Nature, and Christmas Theme Colouring Book.
De-ann is a bestselling author, screenwriter and former newspaper journalist. Traditionally published for over 15 years. De-ann became an Amazon All-Star author in 2014 and 2015, as well as an Amazon All-Stars in 2025.
She has over 100 books published. Romance, thrillers, espionage novels, action adventure. And children's books (non-fiction rocket science books, children's fiction and picture books).
She previously worked as a full-time newspaper journalist for several years. She had her own weekly columns in the press. This included being a motoring correspondent where she got to test drive cars every week for the press for three years.
Before being asked to work for the press, De-ann worked in magazine editorial writing everything from fashion features to social news. And was marketing editor of a glossy magazine.
She is also a professional artist and illustrator. Embroidery design, fabric design, dressmaking, sewing, knitting, photography and fashion are part of her work.
Additionally, De-ann has always been interested in fitness and dance, and was a fitness and bodybuilding champion, 100 metre runner and mountaineer. As a former N.A.B.B.A. Miss Scotland, she had a weekly fitness show on the radio that ran for over three years.
De-ann trained in Shukokai karate, boxing, kickboxing, Dayan Qigong and Jiu Jitsu.
She splits her time between Scotland and London.
Find out more at: www.de-annblack.com
Her embroidery pattern books include: Floral Garden Embroidery Patterns, Floral Spring Embroidery Patterns, Sea Theme Embroidery Patterns, and Christmas & Winter Embroidery Patterns.
De-ann’s colouring books include: Autumn Nature, Summer Nature, Flower Nature, and Christmas Theme Colouring Book.
De-ann is a bestselling author, screenwriter and former newspaper journalist. Traditionally published for over 15 years. De-ann became an Amazon All-Star author in 2014 and 2015, as well as an Amazon All-Stars in 2025.
She has over 100 books published. Romance, thrillers, espionage novels, action adventure. And children's books (non-fiction rocket science books, children's fiction and picture books).
She previously worked as a full-time newspaper journalist for several years. She had her own weekly columns in the press. This included being a motoring correspondent where she got to test drive cars every week for the press for three years.
Before being asked to work for the press, De-ann worked in magazine editorial writing everything from fashion features to social news. And was marketing editor of a glossy magazine.
She is also a professional artist and illustrator. Embroidery design, fabric design, dressmaking, sewing, knitting, photography and fashion are part of her work.
Additionally, De-ann has always been interested in fitness and dance, and was a fitness and bodybuilding champion, 100 metre runner and mountaineer. As a former N.A.B.B.A. Miss Scotland, she had a weekly fitness show on the radio that ran for over three years.
De-ann trained in Shukokai karate, boxing, kickboxing, Dayan Qigong and Jiu Jitsu.
She splits her time between Scotland and London.
Find out more at: www.de-annblack.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 14, 2022
Great reading De's books again cosy loving romance and craft all rolled into one.
May 23, 2022
In the 5th book of this delightful, short story series set around crafting in a small, coastal Scottish Village; Bea has arrived from Glasgow having bought the Bookshop which had closed. The villagers had kept it going but she's decided to reopen it,to provide a service to the Village, and a business for her.
The Villagers welcome her, as they do most newcomers, with love and gifts, especially after learning she knits.
She wasn't the only one who wanted to buy the bookshop, Lewis, an islander who is a successful artist also wanted it, and initially, he goes the wrong way about getting Bea to sell it to him.
There's excitement in the Village as Ione and Big Sam (the silversmith and bookbinder) are due to be married.
I love these books, they're easily read in a couple of hours and feature artisan crafts and romance. The books are all standalone stories but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series. I've already downloaded the 6th book to read!
If you like this series, try one of the others by the same author, they're all equally as good.
The Villagers welcome her, as they do most newcomers, with love and gifts, especially after learning she knits.
She wasn't the only one who wanted to buy the bookshop, Lewis, an islander who is a successful artist also wanted it, and initially, he goes the wrong way about getting Bea to sell it to him.
There's excitement in the Village as Ione and Big Sam (the silversmith and bookbinder) are due to be married.
I love these books, they're easily read in a couple of hours and feature artisan crafts and romance. The books are all standalone stories but they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series. I've already downloaded the 6th book to read!
If you like this series, try one of the others by the same author, they're all equally as good.
September 27, 2021
Cheesy Easy Read
An easy read, this one. A little bit farfetched and whimsical but a light-hearted story if you want a happy ever ending.
An easy read, this one. A little bit farfetched and whimsical but a light-hearted story if you want a happy ever ending.
September 2, 2025
I was gifted this book. Cute and fluffy read- dumb ending.
March 13, 2021
This was like meeting up with favourite friends or family, I really loved immersing myself in the sewing/knitting club and the continuous antics that they get up to. The story of the new bookseller is a usual an interesting one and fraught with lack of confidence.
The dressmaker as usual is part of the central story. There is the usual hostility of meeting people who aren’t happy you have something they want.
It’s the usual lovely story and makes you feel good as you catch up with everyone you already know from previous books.
A very good read.
The dressmaker as usual is part of the central story. There is the usual hostility of meeting people who aren’t happy you have something they want.
It’s the usual lovely story and makes you feel good as you catch up with everyone you already know from previous books.
A very good read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews