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The Café at Marigold Marina
Welcome to the café on Marigold Marina, where the smell of freshly baked cakes fills the air, the boats bob merrily in the mellow evening sun and an unexpected meeting means the chance to love again…
When Rosie inherits the café on Marigold Marina after her husband’s tragic death, she is determined to pour her heart into his dream. Nine months later, as she serves coffee and cakes to customers, she is all smiles and laughter. But when the sunshine-yellow doors of the café are closed, she allows her heart to break all over again.
Rosie doesn’t have much room in her life for anything but the café. But when Kit, the owner of a bookshop barge, starts to come by regularly for lunch, she finds it difficult to ignore his dark eyes, dishevelled curls and warm smile. As the pair grow closer, and Kit teaches Rosie how to swim in the sparkling marina waters, Rosie begins to hope that she might get a second chance at happiness.
But just as she is letting herself open her heart for a second time, she discovers the shocking secret that the husband she loved for so many years kept hidden from her. And when Kit disappears when she needs him the most, she closes her café for good and leaves the marina. But has she cut herself off too quickly? Will moving away allow her to move on? Or can she only find true happiness if she learns to trust again?
An absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming read about what can happen when you leave your comfort zone and listen to your heart. Fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain and Nicola May will fall in love with The Café at Marigold Marina.
When Rosie inherits the café on Marigold Marina after her husband’s tragic death, she is determined to pour her heart into his dream. Nine months later, as she serves coffee and cakes to customers, she is all smiles and laughter. But when the sunshine-yellow doors of the café are closed, she allows her heart to break all over again.
Rosie doesn’t have much room in her life for anything but the café. But when Kit, the owner of a bookshop barge, starts to come by regularly for lunch, she finds it difficult to ignore his dark eyes, dishevelled curls and warm smile. As the pair grow closer, and Kit teaches Rosie how to swim in the sparkling marina waters, Rosie begins to hope that she might get a second chance at happiness.
But just as she is letting herself open her heart for a second time, she discovers the shocking secret that the husband she loved for so many years kept hidden from her. And when Kit disappears when she needs him the most, she closes her café for good and leaves the marina. But has she cut herself off too quickly? Will moving away allow her to move on? Or can she only find true happiness if she learns to trust again?
An absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming read about what can happen when you leave your comfort zone and listen to your heart. Fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain and Nicola May will fall in love with The Café at Marigold Marina.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2022
194 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Tennant
48 books469 followersTilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.
Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.
Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 10, 2022
Everything can change on a dime.
Who doesn't love a good bakery? Walking in the warm delicious scents, the scrumptious treats inside?
Rosie has inherited Marigold Marina after the tragic death of her husband. The cafe was his dream, not hers, but it is hers now and she is going to do her best to make sure his dream comes true. She serves and coffee and cakes during the day and mourns for him at night.
She meets Kit, the owner of the bookshop barge (yes, you read that correctly!) when he comes in for lunch. He's hard to miss, he's handsome, had a head full of curls and a wonderful smile. Their newfound friendship grows and as he teaches her to swim, she believes she may have a second chance at happiness.
But will she allow herself to be happy?
Just when she is ready to take the plunge, she learns some very unsettling and upsetting news about her late husband. Then Kit disappears and as her world has turned upside down, she makes some choices.
The Café at Marigold Marina is not just about living someone else's dream. It's about learning the truth and what you do with it, about facing the facts, trusting, new beginnings, friendship, and self-esteem.
How well do you really know someone? How much of a pedestal do you put a deceased person on? What will you tolerate in your life? What chances are you willing to take? How do you move on?
So many things to sink your teeth into with this book (sadly you can't do that with the pastries). This would be a great book club read as there is much to discuss.
This book was a journey of sorts, and I enjoyed every step of the way. This was my first book by Tilly Tennant and it will not be my last.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
#TheCaféatMarigoldMarina #NetGalley.
Who doesn't love a good bakery? Walking in the warm delicious scents, the scrumptious treats inside?
Rosie has inherited Marigold Marina after the tragic death of her husband. The cafe was his dream, not hers, but it is hers now and she is going to do her best to make sure his dream comes true. She serves and coffee and cakes during the day and mourns for him at night.
She meets Kit, the owner of the bookshop barge (yes, you read that correctly!) when he comes in for lunch. He's hard to miss, he's handsome, had a head full of curls and a wonderful smile. Their newfound friendship grows and as he teaches her to swim, she believes she may have a second chance at happiness.
But will she allow herself to be happy?
Just when she is ready to take the plunge, she learns some very unsettling and upsetting news about her late husband. Then Kit disappears and as her world has turned upside down, she makes some choices.
The Café at Marigold Marina is not just about living someone else's dream. It's about learning the truth and what you do with it, about facing the facts, trusting, new beginnings, friendship, and self-esteem.
How well do you really know someone? How much of a pedestal do you put a deceased person on? What will you tolerate in your life? What chances are you willing to take? How do you move on?
So many things to sink your teeth into with this book (sadly you can't do that with the pastries). This would be a great book club read as there is much to discuss.
This book was a journey of sorts, and I enjoyed every step of the way. This was my first book by Tilly Tennant and it will not be my last.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
#TheCaféatMarigoldMarina #NetGalley.
April 12, 2022
After the small disappointment her last book meant for me, Tilly Tennant is back with one of those stories she’s made me fall in love with more than once, light and uplifting stories that will make you forget all the negativity and will imbue you with a strong sense of community.
Rosie followed her husband Fergus to Marigold Marina to fulfill his dream of running a café, and after his tragic death she felt compelled to make that dream true even though it wasn’t hers. A new arrival at the Marina will put on her way a new chance at happiness but, will she be able to move away from her grief?
Once again the setting was gorgeous and it made me wish I was living there. Most of Rosie’s new neighbors were charming and I loved how they were there for her during those hard times. I love how the author always manages to convey that sense of community where you know you can count on your neighbor no matter what.
I felt for Rosie so badly most of the time! It was really frustrating seeing her suffer when it soon becomes clear her husband was an undeserving piece of sh*t. I hated how he belittled her and then tried to justify it saying it was for her own good. He says LOVE, I say ABUSER! That part was certainly deeper than usual in this kind of stories. Though late, I was so glad when she found out his true colors, allowing herself to heal at last and start anew.
All the supporting characters were quite nice and Kit surely sounded dreamy. And to top it all he owned a bookstore! What more could a girl ask for?
Sweet and beautifully written story of love and friendship, dealing with some heavy issues, in a picturesque setting and with some lovable characters for whom you want to open their eyes to allow themselves a happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rosie followed her husband Fergus to Marigold Marina to fulfill his dream of running a café, and after his tragic death she felt compelled to make that dream true even though it wasn’t hers. A new arrival at the Marina will put on her way a new chance at happiness but, will she be able to move away from her grief?
Once again the setting was gorgeous and it made me wish I was living there. Most of Rosie’s new neighbors were charming and I loved how they were there for her during those hard times. I love how the author always manages to convey that sense of community where you know you can count on your neighbor no matter what.
I felt for Rosie so badly most of the time! It was really frustrating seeing her suffer when it soon becomes clear her husband was an undeserving piece of sh*t. I hated how he belittled her and then tried to justify it saying it was for her own good. He says LOVE, I say ABUSER! That part was certainly deeper than usual in this kind of stories. Though late, I was so glad when she found out his true colors, allowing herself to heal at last and start anew.
All the supporting characters were quite nice and Kit surely sounded dreamy. And to top it all he owned a bookstore! What more could a girl ask for?
Sweet and beautifully written story of love and friendship, dealing with some heavy issues, in a picturesque setting and with some lovable characters for whom you want to open their eyes to allow themselves a happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2022
Finished reading: March 5th 2022
"You never know what you're capable of until you're forced to try."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 6, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'My Best Friend's Wedding' by Tilly Tennant.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Tilly Tennant, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 8th April 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain and Nicola May will fall in love with The Café at Marigold Marina.' I am a huge fan of Shari Low and Heidi Swain so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Tilly and if this is half as good as 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Stratford-on-Avon, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Rosie Ross. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'The Cafe At Marigold Marina' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Tilly discusses/includes domestic abuse.
Congratulations Tilly on yet another gorgeous unputdownable read!!!
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that helps the reader see the waves crashing and feel the wind in their hair. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
This book is a very easy and smooth read and I completely absorbed it in one sitting. Once I picked it up I jist could not put it down so clear your schedules before starting!! I absolutely loved visiting the gorgeous atmosphere of Marigold Marina and Tilly portrayed the community of a small seaside village perfectly. This book is filled with love, loss, friendships, family, betrayal and everything you could hope for in a contemporary romance. The pace was absolutely perfect and I was devasted when I came to the end and realised I had to pack my bags and leave the cafe. I would love to see what happens in the next chapter of Rosie, Kit and Tabitha's lives as well as to see how the cafe gets on. I absolutely loved that Kit owns a book barge as there's nothing better than a book that contains any sort of subjects or characters surrounded by books whether a Librarian, author, bookseller, etc. I thought Kit's book barge was an absolutely gorgeous idea and I would love to see one in reality.
This would make an absolutely gorgeous movie thay I would love to see made!!! This book is a sweet rom com which will have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside at times and yet screaming and shouting at certain people at other times. The atmosphere was gorgeous and I loved the setting. It made this book a perfect fire place read anywhere and anytime from on the beach in the middle of the day or curled up in fire in the middle of the night.
The characters were are well defined, strong and realistic. I became completely invested in not only Rosie but in Kit and Tabitha along with many of the other characters such as Grant. I really clicked with Rosie and my heart completely went out to her but there was several times where I had to grit my teeth to stop myself shouting at her for not seeing what myself and others could see in a certain 3 characters. I won't name who those characters are as not to spoil it for future readers. However, I did enjoy watching her grow in confidence and go from a self pitying wreck to a much loved friend and strong woman. It would be lovely to see where she gets to in a few "book" years. I absolutely adored Kit as soon as I "met" him. Kit is handsome, sweet, friendly and owns a book barge!!! What more could you want in a man?? I didn't trust Nicole at all when I first met her and I thought she was quite stuck up her own butt and definitely someone who cared more about herself than others. Grant was another lovely character who had a large heart and was the pillar of the community as well as a great friend to Rosie, Kit and Tabitha. Tabitha was another character I clicked with immediately and I adored watching her and Rosie relationship develop. The only thing that confused me really is that if the cafe was doing so well and Rosie was working extra shifts then I'm sure there could have been a way around a certain something involving 2 people at the same time. I won't say more as I'm on the fence there and very close to saying too much. I can't say I was shocked when a certain person's true colours were revealed well 2 actually, I didn't like either of them from the start and my suspicions were proved correct. However, you can't love each character or it would be a very boring book. Love them or hate them each character played their role in this storyline absolutely perfectly.
I'm glad that Tilly wrote about a certain aspect of domestic abuse as I don't belive it is talked about enough. If you have read this book and recognise signs that you are going through the same things Rosie was put through please contact victim support, the police or a friend. Thank you Tilly for including this subject. It is not an easy one to include in a storyline but you have woven it in perfectly and it may help readers recognise the signs and get help.
Well done Tilly on another fantastic book!!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!!
Overall a perfect page turning romance that will sweep you off your feet and take you on a gorgeous break away.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Women's Contemporary Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain, Nicola May, Jill Mansel and Jenny Colgan
371 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4 /5 (I Liked it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheCafeAtMarigoldMarina #Bookouture #TillyTennant #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@TillyTennant @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Review for 'My Best Friend's Wedding' by Tilly Tennant.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Tilly Tennant, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 8th April 2022.
This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain and Nicola May will fall in love with The Café at Marigold Marina.' I am a huge fan of Shari Low and Heidi Swain so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Tilly and if this is half as good as 'The Hotel At Honeymoon Station' and 'My Best Friend's Wedding' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 22 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Stratford-on-Avon, England 🏴, UK 🇬🇧 The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Rosie Ross. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'The Cafe At Marigold Marina' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Tilly discusses/includes domestic abuse.
Congratulations Tilly on yet another gorgeous unputdownable read!!!
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that helps the reader see the waves crashing and feel the wind in their hair. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
This book is a very easy and smooth read and I completely absorbed it in one sitting. Once I picked it up I jist could not put it down so clear your schedules before starting!! I absolutely loved visiting the gorgeous atmosphere of Marigold Marina and Tilly portrayed the community of a small seaside village perfectly. This book is filled with love, loss, friendships, family, betrayal and everything you could hope for in a contemporary romance. The pace was absolutely perfect and I was devasted when I came to the end and realised I had to pack my bags and leave the cafe. I would love to see what happens in the next chapter of Rosie, Kit and Tabitha's lives as well as to see how the cafe gets on. I absolutely loved that Kit owns a book barge as there's nothing better than a book that contains any sort of subjects or characters surrounded by books whether a Librarian, author, bookseller, etc. I thought Kit's book barge was an absolutely gorgeous idea and I would love to see one in reality.
This would make an absolutely gorgeous movie thay I would love to see made!!! This book is a sweet rom com which will have you feeling warm and fuzzy inside at times and yet screaming and shouting at certain people at other times. The atmosphere was gorgeous and I loved the setting. It made this book a perfect fire place read anywhere and anytime from on the beach in the middle of the day or curled up in fire in the middle of the night.
The characters were are well defined, strong and realistic. I became completely invested in not only Rosie but in Kit and Tabitha along with many of the other characters such as Grant. I really clicked with Rosie and my heart completely went out to her but there was several times where I had to grit my teeth to stop myself shouting at her for not seeing what myself and others could see in a certain 3 characters. I won't name who those characters are as not to spoil it for future readers. However, I did enjoy watching her grow in confidence and go from a self pitying wreck to a much loved friend and strong woman. It would be lovely to see where she gets to in a few "book" years. I absolutely adored Kit as soon as I "met" him. Kit is handsome, sweet, friendly and owns a book barge!!! What more could you want in a man?? I didn't trust Nicole at all when I first met her and I thought she was quite stuck up her own butt and definitely someone who cared more about herself than others. Grant was another lovely character who had a large heart and was the pillar of the community as well as a great friend to Rosie, Kit and Tabitha. Tabitha was another character I clicked with immediately and I adored watching her and Rosie relationship develop. The only thing that confused me really is that if the cafe was doing so well and Rosie was working extra shifts then I'm sure there could have been a way around a certain something involving 2 people at the same time. I won't say more as I'm on the fence there and very close to saying too much. I can't say I was shocked when a certain person's true colours were revealed well 2 actually, I didn't like either of them from the start and my suspicions were proved correct. However, you can't love each character or it would be a very boring book. Love them or hate them each character played their role in this storyline absolutely perfectly.
I'm glad that Tilly wrote about a certain aspect of domestic abuse as I don't belive it is talked about enough. If you have read this book and recognise signs that you are going through the same things Rosie was put through please contact victim support, the police or a friend. Thank you Tilly for including this subject. It is not an easy one to include in a storyline but you have woven it in perfectly and it may help readers recognise the signs and get help.
Well done Tilly on another fantastic book!!! Here's to your next success 🥂!!!
Overall a perfect page turning romance that will sweep you off your feet and take you on a gorgeous break away.
Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance and Women's Contemporary Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shari Low, Heidi Swain, Nicola May, Jill Mansel and Jenny Colgan
371 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4 /5 (I Liked it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheCafeAtMarigoldMarina #Bookouture #TillyTennant #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@TillyTennant @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
April 17, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
There were emotions, all jumbled up inside her, so many she was overwhelmed. She couldn’t pick out a single one and feel it.
‘You said you wanted to broaden your horizons and push yourself to do new things.’ ‘I meant like trying a new flavour of crisp.’
My Review:
This was an easy-to-follow and engaging small village read with a couple of challenging characters that I just wanted to give a good pinch or ten. The small riverside village and its populous of quirky residents were so well detailed I feel I could recognize and greet them in passing. The main character of Rosie was timid and anxiety-ridden and basically allowed herself to be a doormat, which was rather tedious at times yet the insights and observations written for this character were realistically true of many people. Tilly Tennant's stories are so well-honed and complete they could easily be transferred immediately to the screen as sharp visuals scrolled through my brain throughout perusal.
There were emotions, all jumbled up inside her, so many she was overwhelmed. She couldn’t pick out a single one and feel it.
‘You said you wanted to broaden your horizons and push yourself to do new things.’ ‘I meant like trying a new flavour of crisp.’
My Review:
This was an easy-to-follow and engaging small village read with a couple of challenging characters that I just wanted to give a good pinch or ten. The small riverside village and its populous of quirky residents were so well detailed I feel I could recognize and greet them in passing. The main character of Rosie was timid and anxiety-ridden and basically allowed herself to be a doormat, which was rather tedious at times yet the insights and observations written for this character were realistically true of many people. Tilly Tennant's stories are so well-honed and complete they could easily be transferred immediately to the screen as sharp visuals scrolled through my brain throughout perusal.
April 21, 2022
I loved this sweet book it was warm and inviting. The people who lived in this village were always willing to help others and the cafe seemed to be the most friendliest place around. I hope there is more in this series. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 3, 2022
This was a really sweet book, beautifully written, touching romance, wonderful characters and simply a pleasure to read. A young widow struggles to complete her late husbands dream, I mean as soon as I read that synopsis I knew it was going to be a book I would love, with emotions and full of heart. This book was exactly what I wanted and hoped for, a book full of community and family, about the family that we choose for ourselves, the right community can throw its arms around you and care for you as well as any family of blood. Tilly Tenent never disappoints, although I would have liked more of Kit's story, I am hoping for something more in a future book hopefully 🙏🏻
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
April 11, 2022
Rosie has her hands full running her café after the sudden and tragic death of her husband. Their marriage was hardly idyllic, especially considering that not only was he verbally abusive, he gaslighted her every chance he could. Nonetheless, Rosie loved him and truly mourns his loss.
First on the agenda was hiring a waitress. She finds someone perfect for the job, but due to a broken bone, was out of commission. A boat owner on the marina, Kit, while at the café for a sandwhich, recommends his sister Tabitha to take the job for the time being. Kit and Tabitha play significant roles when it comes to Rosie's healing.
While dealing with the day-to-day routine of running the café, Rosie has conflicting emotions. Flashbacks about her husband's treatment makes an apparent budding romance seem unlikely. Timing is definitely a factor, espcially when considering that Rosie must decide if she can trust her heart again.
This emotional read by Tilly Tennant strongly connected me to Rosie and to a couple of other characters. I loved the contrasting emotions that Rosie faced in this strong story. Ms. Tennant is a remarkable author and I cannot wait to read the next book by her.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also see my YouTube video review at - https://youtu.be/FnJ_wVX6_-k
First on the agenda was hiring a waitress. She finds someone perfect for the job, but due to a broken bone, was out of commission. A boat owner on the marina, Kit, while at the café for a sandwhich, recommends his sister Tabitha to take the job for the time being. Kit and Tabitha play significant roles when it comes to Rosie's healing.
While dealing with the day-to-day routine of running the café, Rosie has conflicting emotions. Flashbacks about her husband's treatment makes an apparent budding romance seem unlikely. Timing is definitely a factor, espcially when considering that Rosie must decide if she can trust her heart again.
This emotional read by Tilly Tennant strongly connected me to Rosie and to a couple of other characters. I loved the contrasting emotions that Rosie faced in this strong story. Ms. Tennant is a remarkable author and I cannot wait to read the next book by her.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please also see my YouTube video review at - https://youtu.be/FnJ_wVX6_-k
April 17, 2022
This has been a lovely read, entertaining and full on drama from start to finish. I wasn’t too surprised though as Tilly books are always good reads.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I have to say that Rose, the main character was not one of my faves, she quite annoyed me and frustrated me, in the sense that when the truth comes out re a certain person (obviously I can’t mention name as I really don’t want to give any spoilers away or ruin for anyone), how she put up with it in the past and why she thought it was normal behaviour and didn’t come to her senses sooner, and why she put up with it, but I guess the main thing is that she did get over it eventually and did come to her senses before it was too late.
I loved the characters of Kit and Tabitha, who are brother and sister, they really gelled well and clearly cared for each other and that of their friends/family.
Loved the setting/location, sounds like a truly nice place to visit or live for sure.
Although I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I have to say that Rose, the main character was not one of my faves, she quite annoyed me and frustrated me, in the sense that when the truth comes out re a certain person (obviously I can’t mention name as I really don’t want to give any spoilers away or ruin for anyone), how she put up with it in the past and why she thought it was normal behaviour and didn’t come to her senses sooner, and why she put up with it, but I guess the main thing is that she did get over it eventually and did come to her senses before it was too late.
I loved the characters of Kit and Tabitha, who are brother and sister, they really gelled well and clearly cared for each other and that of their friends/family.
Loved the setting/location, sounds like a truly nice place to visit or live for sure.
September 1, 2022
A great story of a cafe set nr the sea Rosie has a lot going on in her life after the death of her husband. She tries to run the cafe herself but needs help, along comes Tabitha young but with loads of enthusiasm. She also has an older brother Kit who runs a library from his boat, and is attracted to Rosie but her friend Nicole also likes him!!!!
December 2, 2024
This book left me feeling a mix of emotions. At times, I found it confusing and frustrating, but I think part of that frustration came from my own impatience. That said, I absolutely adored Tabitha—she was such a standout character. Her personality felt so relatable to me, and I connected with her on a deep level. Kit was another favorite. He was incredibly charming—like the quintessential adorable, humble bookstore owner who you just can’t help but root for. Rosie, on the other hand, frustrated me at times. I found myself thinking, “How can you be so blind to what’s happening around you?” But to be fair, I could relate to her in certain moments, albeit in a different way.
The setting was a huge highlight for me. The small village where everyone knows each other felt so warm and nostalgic—it truly hit a sweet spot and added a cozy charm to the story. I also enjoyed parts of the plot, especially the middle, but something felt like it was missing overall. There were times when I struggled to stay engaged. It took me quite a while to finish the book, partly because certain sections felt slow or predictable. For instance, I skipped most of Chapter 17 (i think………at Edith’s party) because it just didn’t hold my attention, though I did come back for the pivotal moment when Kit confessed to Rosie.
The predictability of the story also dampened my enjoyment. It was fairly easy to guess how things would unfold—how Rosie would realize her feelings for Kit, how they’d end up together, and so on. While that didn’t ruin the book, it did take away some of the excitement.
Despite its flaws, there were elements I really loved, especially the characters and the setting 🧡🙂↕️
Note: I did read the Estonian edition and the translation style was a little meh for me. Was not my favourite…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2022
'Even the bad times. It all fits together like a puzzle, doesn't it? Bad times can make good times and good times can turn into bad ones. But you can't have one without the other.'
The Café at Marigold Marina is a second chance in life and recognizing self worth sort of story.
Set in England, this novel is the story of Rosie who is trying to get a grip on her life after her husband dies. She is in a situation which didn't choose but is pursuing that dream nonetheless for someone whom she loved. What comes after changes her view of herself and life.
Honestly speaking, I did not like Rosie for a major portion of the novel. She wallows in self pity, shuns people around her who are genuinely interested in friendship and is worried about the people who pretty much are gaslighting her. She redeems herself at the end, but not my favorite character. Tabitha is the character I really loved. I hope the author writes a story for her in the future.
I enjoyed reading Rosie's story, but in the back of my mind I was screaming all along that 'girl, remove your glasses and see the reality which is before you.'
Triggers: Depression, gaslighting, cheating, loss of a loved one
The Café at Marigold Marina is a second chance in life and recognizing self worth sort of story.
Set in England, this novel is the story of Rosie who is trying to get a grip on her life after her husband dies. She is in a situation which didn't choose but is pursuing that dream nonetheless for someone whom she loved. What comes after changes her view of herself and life.
Honestly speaking, I did not like Rosie for a major portion of the novel. She wallows in self pity, shuns people around her who are genuinely interested in friendship and is worried about the people who pretty much are gaslighting her. She redeems herself at the end, but not my favorite character. Tabitha is the character I really loved. I hope the author writes a story for her in the future.
I enjoyed reading Rosie's story, but in the back of my mind I was screaming all along that 'girl, remove your glasses and see the reality which is before you.'
Triggers: Depression, gaslighting, cheating, loss of a loved one
April 5, 2022
This book was charming, beautifully written, touched me with its romance, and the characters were delightful. It had a picturesque feel, and I liked how cozy it felt. I did think the hero's sister interfered a tad too much into the heroine's budding romance with the hero but I loved how it worked out. From a verbally abusive husband who made her feel worthless to learning to love herself and her hero, the heroine realizes her worth.
Thank you to Netgalley and The publisher for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and The publisher for the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.
July 20, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion. I probably requested this book because I really like the cover...I also really like the title. And I pretty much loved this one from the beginning. I connected to the characters right away and stayed interested throughout the whole book...I loved the premise of the novel and I just almost felt like I was there with them...I wanted to meet these people lol. There is even a twist thrown in that I certainly didn't see coming but that led to so much character growth that it added a lot to the whole story. I would recommend to anyone who likes love stories and personal development...
May 30, 2022
Tilly Tennant is one of my favorite author so I knew before reading this new book of hers that I was going to like it and I wasn't wrong! I loved it! It's another wonderful book by Tilly Tennant! A very heartwarming story and a lovely romance! This book is so well written and there are so much that I haven't seen coming when reading it! This book is full of surprises and mystery around some of the characters. It's a page turner, you really want to know what is going to happen! The main characters are really loveable and very well built! I am giving a 4 stars out of 5 to this book! Thank you to Tilly Tennant for always writing such good stories that are all different from one another! She has an incredible creativity ! Love it!
August 14, 2023
I am always ready to read a book by Tilly Tennant, whilst some of her books are better than others the characters are always friendly, warm and the books full of new beginnings. And the covers are always vibrant and inviting.
The cafe at Marigold Marina is no different. It is an easy to read book about a character moving to a small village to start a new after the death of her husband. Marigold Marina is full of lovely, funny and caring villagers ready to help Rosie. Books like this make me want to move somewhere similar and become part of a lovely little community and go sit in the cafe and enjoy tea and cake in good company.
Rosie herself is quite a timid character, but we can see her come out of her shell with the influence of those around her and Kit, who she can't help swooning over even if her heart isn't quite ready to start again.
A lovely book to read, curled up in your arm chair with a nice cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cafe at Marigold Marina is no different. It is an easy to read book about a character moving to a small village to start a new after the death of her husband. Marigold Marina is full of lovely, funny and caring villagers ready to help Rosie. Books like this make me want to move somewhere similar and become part of a lovely little community and go sit in the cafe and enjoy tea and cake in good company.
Rosie herself is quite a timid character, but we can see her come out of her shell with the influence of those around her and Kit, who she can't help swooning over even if her heart isn't quite ready to start again.
A lovely book to read, curled up in your arm chair with a nice cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2022
How truly delightful does this book look and sound! The cover straight away drew me in with it's warm skies and blue waters. I did initially think it was based by the sea, but it is in fact based by the river in Stratford Upon Avon. We meet Rosie, who moved all the way down from Newcastle to open a cafe with husband, Fergus. Tragically, Fergus dies during the cafe's renovations and instead of selling up and moving home, Rosie decides to stay and make a go of it in Fergus's memory. I loved Rosie's character - she's mild, meek and very shy but what a strong woman she is to stay where she knows nobody and deal with her grief let alone a new business venture!
Marigold Marina sounds beautiful, and we get to meet some great characters who live and work there. Grant, who runs the boatyard is so likeable, and his mother Edith certainly pulls no punches in telling it how it is! Tabitha, who works at the cafe, and her brother Kit, are equally likeable with Tabitha being far wiser than her years and Kit sounding impossibly perfect! There are also some not as nice characters, and despite being Rosie's friend I really didn't warm to Nicole at all. Of course, things never run too smoothly and there are a few secrets and insecurities hidden amongst the Marina community which kept me hooked into their storylines throughout!
Rosie's little cafe sounds amazing, and I have little doubt that I would become a regular there! She has little self-confidence (which you'll understand why as her story is revealed), and yet she runs the cafe like she has done it for years! I loved her relationship with the other characters, although she deserved to be treated better by some, and really kept everything crossed that she had a happy ending!
I've read so many of this author's books, but this must be my favourite! It's so delightfully bright and breezy and full of warmth, love and friendships! There were so many moments where I laughed out loud, and we really needed to see more of tipsy Rosie! I was completely hooked by the end of the first page and had it finished in a few hours! It is such a fabulous read that will pull on your heart strings and lighten your heart all in one go! Love, loved, LOVED it! Would definitely recommend!!
Marigold Marina sounds beautiful, and we get to meet some great characters who live and work there. Grant, who runs the boatyard is so likeable, and his mother Edith certainly pulls no punches in telling it how it is! Tabitha, who works at the cafe, and her brother Kit, are equally likeable with Tabitha being far wiser than her years and Kit sounding impossibly perfect! There are also some not as nice characters, and despite being Rosie's friend I really didn't warm to Nicole at all. Of course, things never run too smoothly and there are a few secrets and insecurities hidden amongst the Marina community which kept me hooked into their storylines throughout!
Rosie's little cafe sounds amazing, and I have little doubt that I would become a regular there! She has little self-confidence (which you'll understand why as her story is revealed), and yet she runs the cafe like she has done it for years! I loved her relationship with the other characters, although she deserved to be treated better by some, and really kept everything crossed that she had a happy ending!
I've read so many of this author's books, but this must be my favourite! It's so delightfully bright and breezy and full of warmth, love and friendships! There were so many moments where I laughed out loud, and we really needed to see more of tipsy Rosie! I was completely hooked by the end of the first page and had it finished in a few hours! It is such a fabulous read that will pull on your heart strings and lighten your heart all in one go! Love, loved, LOVED it! Would definitely recommend!!
April 4, 2022
Published: April 8, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 371
Genre: Romance
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. She also works as a freelance fiction editor and part-time lecturer. Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014, it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her fifteenth Tilly Tennant novel. Christmas bestseller A Very Vintage Christmas has just been made into a movie for Lifetime Channel. Tilly also writes young adult fiction as Sharon Sant.
“Time to let go.”
Rosie is in a village far from home and family. But her mate husband had decided that the Marigold Marina and the cafe were their dreams. Rosie is still trying to process and heal from Fergus’s sudden passing, so she continues with the cafe. What else could she do? The last thing she ever expected was just how welcoming and supportive the Marina community would be. And the warm brown eyes that belonged to fellow business owners, that made her heart flutter.
This was such a sweet story. I enjoyed how it expanded as the plot moved along. This novel had a lovely pace, and I enjoyed the characters.
Rosie is a shy, sweet, loyal woman who is attempting to continue on after the sudden death of her husband. She is our main character, and it is her journey we follow.
I enjoyed the writing style and the storytelling. This was such a well-done book, and I love that hindsight was such a prominent aspect.
The life Rosie thought she loved with her husband was not all sunshine. Then there is Tabitha, the intelligent, kind, hardworking woman who applied to work at the cafe with Rosie.
She brought sunshine and laughter back into Rosie’s life, and with that, she also brought her brother, Kit. With warm, dark eyes, and a genuinely kind heart, Rosie is more conflicted than ever.
This was a beautifully written love story about second chances and falling in love with yourself. Finding value in your heart, your desires, your wishes, and wants.
I loved the last half of this book. The way things were discovered, the life-changing realizations, and the pursuit of a fresh start. Such a beautifully written novel, set in a stunning locale, with quirky characters and a love that can last.
Bookouture
Pages: 371
Genre: Romance
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. She also works as a freelance fiction editor and part-time lecturer. Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014, it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her fifteenth Tilly Tennant novel. Christmas bestseller A Very Vintage Christmas has just been made into a movie for Lifetime Channel. Tilly also writes young adult fiction as Sharon Sant.
“Time to let go.”
Rosie is in a village far from home and family. But her mate husband had decided that the Marigold Marina and the cafe were their dreams. Rosie is still trying to process and heal from Fergus’s sudden passing, so she continues with the cafe. What else could she do? The last thing she ever expected was just how welcoming and supportive the Marina community would be. And the warm brown eyes that belonged to fellow business owners, that made her heart flutter.
This was such a sweet story. I enjoyed how it expanded as the plot moved along. This novel had a lovely pace, and I enjoyed the characters.
Rosie is a shy, sweet, loyal woman who is attempting to continue on after the sudden death of her husband. She is our main character, and it is her journey we follow.
I enjoyed the writing style and the storytelling. This was such a well-done book, and I love that hindsight was such a prominent aspect.
The life Rosie thought she loved with her husband was not all sunshine. Then there is Tabitha, the intelligent, kind, hardworking woman who applied to work at the cafe with Rosie.
She brought sunshine and laughter back into Rosie’s life, and with that, she also brought her brother, Kit. With warm, dark eyes, and a genuinely kind heart, Rosie is more conflicted than ever.
This was a beautifully written love story about second chances and falling in love with yourself. Finding value in your heart, your desires, your wishes, and wants.
I loved the last half of this book. The way things were discovered, the life-changing realizations, and the pursuit of a fresh start. Such a beautifully written novel, set in a stunning locale, with quirky characters and a love that can last.
February 14, 2022
This has to be one of my favourite books by Tilly Tennant.
It really got under my skin and into my heart.
Fergus had been searching for somewhere to follow his dream of owning a business. He’d had several dream ideas in the past that never went more than the idea stage. When a café came on the market by the marina near to Stratford, hundreds of miles away from their native north east, he thought it the perfect place for a new dream. His wife Rosie of course went along with his dream. The café was a real mess, and before they got to the opening stage Fergus tragically died.
Rosie bravely pushed on with the plan even though she is grieving her loss, and with no family nearby to support her.
The café successfully opened, I loved the ambience of it with the décor and could almost smell the bacon and coffee.
The marina had a few businesses including a book barge, gift shop, a farm shop and boat hire. The owners really looked out for Rosie, giving her wonderful support.
A fabulous story of friendship, family and secrets with a great cast of characters.
I loved Kit from the book barge and his sister Tabitha, both with worries of their own.
Nicole from the gift shop had supported Rosie but was prone to some odd behaviour.
Grant from the boat hire was lovely, and the group outing on the bikes was such fun.
Rosie’s friendship with Kit was so nice. Him teaching her to swim was just the best, she was so brave.
A real heart-warmer this one, it got me so emotional too.
I thoroughly recommend it.
It really got under my skin and into my heart.
Fergus had been searching for somewhere to follow his dream of owning a business. He’d had several dream ideas in the past that never went more than the idea stage. When a café came on the market by the marina near to Stratford, hundreds of miles away from their native north east, he thought it the perfect place for a new dream. His wife Rosie of course went along with his dream. The café was a real mess, and before they got to the opening stage Fergus tragically died.
Rosie bravely pushed on with the plan even though she is grieving her loss, and with no family nearby to support her.
The café successfully opened, I loved the ambience of it with the décor and could almost smell the bacon and coffee.
The marina had a few businesses including a book barge, gift shop, a farm shop and boat hire. The owners really looked out for Rosie, giving her wonderful support.
A fabulous story of friendship, family and secrets with a great cast of characters.
I loved Kit from the book barge and his sister Tabitha, both with worries of their own.
Nicole from the gift shop had supported Rosie but was prone to some odd behaviour.
Grant from the boat hire was lovely, and the group outing on the bikes was such fun.
Rosie’s friendship with Kit was so nice. Him teaching her to swim was just the best, she was so brave.
A real heart-warmer this one, it got me so emotional too.
I thoroughly recommend it.
May 4, 2022
The Café at Marigold Marina is such a gorgeous read! I LOVED it! Not that I’m surprised, of course, because all Tilly Tennant’s books are beautifully written stories, set in beautiful places, and are full of characters you fall in love with.
Rosie is such a lovely character. I really felt for her. I can’t even imagine being widowed at such a young age. Any age must be devastating. It doesn’t bare thinking about. To face running a business all alone after such a tragedy would be far too much for me to handle, I think. I take my hat off to her. Especially as we learn more about her husband as the story progresses. He made me really cross. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a deceased character so much before. However, they say everything happens for a reason and Rosie was obviously destined to find herself running her café alone. It was never going to be easy, but are there brighter days ahead?
Kit is the most adorable character. I think I fell for him myself! He adds such charm to this story. He has had, and still has, his own struggles. You can’t help but like him and want him to find happiness. He’s obviously quite easy on the eye too, which never hurts 😉
I loved the new friendships Rosie develops amongst her fellow business owners and her assistant. I loved the setting of this book too. It sounds like an amazing place to live and work.
I love the close relationship Rosie shares with her parents also.
I was happily swept away with Rosie’s story. It’s an emotional one, but heart-warming and ultimately uplifting. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it!
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/05/0...
Rosie is such a lovely character. I really felt for her. I can’t even imagine being widowed at such a young age. Any age must be devastating. It doesn’t bare thinking about. To face running a business all alone after such a tragedy would be far too much for me to handle, I think. I take my hat off to her. Especially as we learn more about her husband as the story progresses. He made me really cross. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a deceased character so much before. However, they say everything happens for a reason and Rosie was obviously destined to find herself running her café alone. It was never going to be easy, but are there brighter days ahead?
Kit is the most adorable character. I think I fell for him myself! He adds such charm to this story. He has had, and still has, his own struggles. You can’t help but like him and want him to find happiness. He’s obviously quite easy on the eye too, which never hurts 😉
I loved the new friendships Rosie develops amongst her fellow business owners and her assistant. I loved the setting of this book too. It sounds like an amazing place to live and work.
I love the close relationship Rosie shares with her parents also.
I was happily swept away with Rosie’s story. It’s an emotional one, but heart-warming and ultimately uplifting. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it!
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/05/0...
February 7, 2022
Primero que nada: ¡Gracias por la copia avanzada de este libro! No había tenido la oportunidad de leer algo de esta autora pero siendo esta la primera aproximación me siento honrada de poder haberlo leído antes de que salga al mundo.
Ahora sí, lo que todos estabamos esperando, la reseña y mi opinión. El libro empieza con nuestra heroína completamente destrozada porque su esposo ha muerto y la ha dejado sola en un pueblo que no conoce muy bien y a cargo de un sueño que no es suyo. Mientras que ella sigue adelante con dicho sueño se ve obligada a enfrentar la posibilidad de volver a confiar no solo en las personas sino en ella misma para volverse a enamorar. Bonito, ¿no?
Bueno pues hubiera deseado haber podido conectar con los personajes porque realmente los sentía mal construidos en el sentido de que, a veces, me sorprendía de ver como el personaje cambiaba de actitud de un momento a otro convirtiendose en alguien distintos.
Es un slowburn, por si se preguntaban, lo único es que los personajes no parecen tener la edad que dicen tener y que tampoco tienen química. Ah y si hay algo que me gusta es el drama, pero odio un drama mal hecho; en pocas palabras: no me gustó el drama.
Sin embargo, me veo en la obligación de ponerle 2 estrellas porque exisitieron partes en las que me podía ver reflejada en Rosie.
Ahora sí, lo que todos estabamos esperando, la reseña y mi opinión. El libro empieza con nuestra heroína completamente destrozada porque su esposo ha muerto y la ha dejado sola en un pueblo que no conoce muy bien y a cargo de un sueño que no es suyo. Mientras que ella sigue adelante con dicho sueño se ve obligada a enfrentar la posibilidad de volver a confiar no solo en las personas sino en ella misma para volverse a enamorar. Bonito, ¿no?
Bueno pues hubiera deseado haber podido conectar con los personajes porque realmente los sentía mal construidos en el sentido de que, a veces, me sorprendía de ver como el personaje cambiaba de actitud de un momento a otro convirtiendose en alguien distintos.
Es un slowburn, por si se preguntaban, lo único es que los personajes no parecen tener la edad que dicen tener y que tampoco tienen química. Ah y si hay algo que me gusta es el drama, pero odio un drama mal hecho; en pocas palabras: no me gustó el drama.
Sin embargo, me veo en la obligación de ponerle 2 estrellas porque exisitieron partes en las que me podía ver reflejada en Rosie.
April 10, 2022
THE CAFE AT MARIGOLD MARINA by TILLY TENNANT.
I loved the cover and the title of this book. It screamed out that it was most definitely my kind of read…. Light, feel good and heartwarming.
Over all, this book didn’t disappoint.
Rosie is a thirty year old widow, who is still grieving for the loss of her husband. As she works hard to run the cafe in Marigold Marina, believing it was ‘their’ dream and that she is doing it for her late husband, we soon learn that their marriage wasn’t as perfect as Rosie believed.
Rosie makes new friends in the area and attracts the attention of a rather lovely bookshop boat owner.
There is drama, and secrets are revealed along the way.
I enjoyed the setting of this book, Tilly Tennant, writes Marigold Marina, as a very welcoming and vibrant area.
The writing style was engaging and flowed well.
The one thing I struggled with was Rosie the main character. I wanted to like her, I really did, but she was so wishy - washy. Thankfully she was more tolerable towards the end, but it took a while to get there.
All credit to Tilly Tennant for writing with such skill that she can bring out such strong feelings from her readers towards her characters.
This is an enjoyable read and gets a solid 4 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available now in all formats.
With thanks to #Netgalley and #Bookouture for a digital arc of this book.
April 9, 2022
The Café at Marigold Marina is another great read from Tilly Tennant. It has a gorgeous cover that sets the scene for the story that awaits you. It’s a quick read but an enjoyable one as you become caught up in the trials and tribulations that face the main character Rosie who is left bereft when her husband Fergus dies suddenly just as they were on the way to fulfilling a life dream of theirs. She has carried their plan through and is on the cusp of opening a brand new café at the delightful Marigold Marina. She has spent three months battling to get the café ship shape and ready for opening but at the same time she feels it’s all for nothing as the person who was meant to be by her side is gone. By keeping going with the project it’s Rosie’s way of remembering Fergus but deep down you can sense that perhaps this is not what Rosie herself wanted. There seems to be a reluctance and fear that surround her and it’s more like she owes it to Fergus to see their plan through to fruition. She feels that she doesn’t deserve the life that Fergus should have been gifted but at the same time she thinks maybe I should make the most of it?
Rosie was a complex character who I felt was really down on herself a lot of the time. I know she was caught up deeply in her grief, but I think this shrouded her overall viewpoint. She quite often failed to see her worth and that she could be strong enough to keep going on her own, it’s like she needed Fergus as a side kick or even a leader. It was as if he was the one with all the drive and ambition and now that he has been taken she needs to find these qualities for herself but when we first meet her she can’t see a way of achieving her goals or giving herself the kick she needed to really get going. Rosie is lonely and, who wouldn’t be without your life companion by your side, I thought she turned to anyone that came into her life and wanted them as a friend. Of course, some people are genuine and a friendship would be natural but I sensed that some characters weren’t all as they seemed and were hiding things. Things that if Rosie knew the truth about I doubt she would have been welcoming them with open arms into her life.
Rosie has had months of doubt, angst and second guessing herself? Is opening the café the right thing to do? Was it really Fergus’s dream and not hers? Is she only going through with it because she will feel guilty if she doesn’t? But once she opens up, she does feel a sense of achievement and she begins to settle into the marina. That’s not to say life is all plain sailing. In fact far from it and the author throws in plenty of twists and turns and shows how Rosie has to navigate a path that is filled with bumps before she can find true contentment in her new life and acceptance that Fergus is no longer by her side.
I loved the setting of the marina and all its residents. I found it so vividly described that I could picture it so clearly in my head. There were lots of secondary characters introduced but they weren’t just there for the sake of it, they all had a role to play be it big or small and in fact I wanted to know more about them. I definitely feel there is room for another book with some of the characters that featured here which would allow for them to develop more of their backstory. Nicole runs the gift shop, Layla and Tom have the farm shop, Hal runs river trips and Angel has her cocktail barge. Luca has a gelato boat, Julie has a sandwich barge and Grant has his boat hire business.
Newcomer Kit, who has a book barge, and his sister Tabitha feature heavily and I suppose Rosie felt a kindred spirit with Kit as they were both new to the area. Tabitha gets Rosie out of a hole and agrees to work in the café with her and a friendship is formed. Kit is handsome, warm, intelligent and full of genuine charm and I thought he could very well be the one to draw Rosie out of herself. Will she be willing to open herself up to love for a second time? Will the barriers she has constructed remain steadfast or will Kit be the one to bend and break them? I truly hoped so because the way they were both written it was like they were destined for each other. I think the following quote sums up Rosie to perfection and goes along way to explaining why I thought she was quite a frustrating character at times ’Even during quite moments there was a strange undercurrent, a vague background hum of menace, some hidden and unspoken anxiety waiting to drag her down whenever she felt as if she might just find contentment’. I think this was why she was so reluctant to believe that the café could be a success and that she could go to find happiness after Fergus’s death. It’s only when certain things come to light and very surprising revelations unfold that I felt Rosie was justified in feeling this way and I knew why she was so reluctant to be positive and all embracing. The discovery really throws Rosie of track and her reaction was spur of the moment and I think as soon as she made the decision she was regretting it. But as a reader, I was like, yes, my suspicions about a certain character were right and I hope they are now shunned and get the cold shoulder from all the residents as they truly deserve it.
Once again, Rosie is forced to revaluate her life and here again I thought you are being far too hard on your self especially when the reader learns a few of the things that Rosie herself has being hiding. The opinions you had formed about characters change and it makes you step back and view the story in a different light. I loved the way her relationship with Fergus was explored in much more detail in the later half of the book and it allowed me to make sense of how she was dealing with Kit in the present. Ki, has faith in her and believes she can do anything, he has given her self-belief and helped her find her freedom. But will she let all these wonderful characteristics that she has found slip through her fingers? Has she made too rash of a decision upon finding out things she wished she had never heard? Will Rosie find happiness or will the shadows of the recent past play too heavily on her mind? To find out the answers and to discover a wonderful engaging story then I would have no hesitation in recommending this lovely read.
Rosie was a complex character who I felt was really down on herself a lot of the time. I know she was caught up deeply in her grief, but I think this shrouded her overall viewpoint. She quite often failed to see her worth and that she could be strong enough to keep going on her own, it’s like she needed Fergus as a side kick or even a leader. It was as if he was the one with all the drive and ambition and now that he has been taken she needs to find these qualities for herself but when we first meet her she can’t see a way of achieving her goals or giving herself the kick she needed to really get going. Rosie is lonely and, who wouldn’t be without your life companion by your side, I thought she turned to anyone that came into her life and wanted them as a friend. Of course, some people are genuine and a friendship would be natural but I sensed that some characters weren’t all as they seemed and were hiding things. Things that if Rosie knew the truth about I doubt she would have been welcoming them with open arms into her life.
Rosie has had months of doubt, angst and second guessing herself? Is opening the café the right thing to do? Was it really Fergus’s dream and not hers? Is she only going through with it because she will feel guilty if she doesn’t? But once she opens up, she does feel a sense of achievement and she begins to settle into the marina. That’s not to say life is all plain sailing. In fact far from it and the author throws in plenty of twists and turns and shows how Rosie has to navigate a path that is filled with bumps before she can find true contentment in her new life and acceptance that Fergus is no longer by her side.
I loved the setting of the marina and all its residents. I found it so vividly described that I could picture it so clearly in my head. There were lots of secondary characters introduced but they weren’t just there for the sake of it, they all had a role to play be it big or small and in fact I wanted to know more about them. I definitely feel there is room for another book with some of the characters that featured here which would allow for them to develop more of their backstory. Nicole runs the gift shop, Layla and Tom have the farm shop, Hal runs river trips and Angel has her cocktail barge. Luca has a gelato boat, Julie has a sandwich barge and Grant has his boat hire business.
Newcomer Kit, who has a book barge, and his sister Tabitha feature heavily and I suppose Rosie felt a kindred spirit with Kit as they were both new to the area. Tabitha gets Rosie out of a hole and agrees to work in the café with her and a friendship is formed. Kit is handsome, warm, intelligent and full of genuine charm and I thought he could very well be the one to draw Rosie out of herself. Will she be willing to open herself up to love for a second time? Will the barriers she has constructed remain steadfast or will Kit be the one to bend and break them? I truly hoped so because the way they were both written it was like they were destined for each other. I think the following quote sums up Rosie to perfection and goes along way to explaining why I thought she was quite a frustrating character at times ’Even during quite moments there was a strange undercurrent, a vague background hum of menace, some hidden and unspoken anxiety waiting to drag her down whenever she felt as if she might just find contentment’. I think this was why she was so reluctant to believe that the café could be a success and that she could go to find happiness after Fergus’s death. It’s only when certain things come to light and very surprising revelations unfold that I felt Rosie was justified in feeling this way and I knew why she was so reluctant to be positive and all embracing. The discovery really throws Rosie of track and her reaction was spur of the moment and I think as soon as she made the decision she was regretting it. But as a reader, I was like, yes, my suspicions about a certain character were right and I hope they are now shunned and get the cold shoulder from all the residents as they truly deserve it.
Once again, Rosie is forced to revaluate her life and here again I thought you are being far too hard on your self especially when the reader learns a few of the things that Rosie herself has being hiding. The opinions you had formed about characters change and it makes you step back and view the story in a different light. I loved the way her relationship with Fergus was explored in much more detail in the later half of the book and it allowed me to make sense of how she was dealing with Kit in the present. Ki, has faith in her and believes she can do anything, he has given her self-belief and helped her find her freedom. But will she let all these wonderful characteristics that she has found slip through her fingers? Has she made too rash of a decision upon finding out things she wished she had never heard? Will Rosie find happiness or will the shadows of the recent past play too heavily on her mind? To find out the answers and to discover a wonderful engaging story then I would have no hesitation in recommending this lovely read.
March 17, 2022
Most of Tilly Tennant's books have a backdrop of romance setting with a cute cover and title. The Cafe at Marigold Marina is one such book.
Rosie inherits the cafe in Marigold Marina after her husband Fergus dies. Across the cafe is Kit who owned a bookshop and another shop owned by her friend Nicole. Rosie makes friends in the neighborhood and the whole neighborhood would go bar hopping to learning swimming. But then Rosie discovers some secret about her husband.
This is a cheesy romance novel and compared to her last book which I reviewed, this was a good romance book. Quite engaging and I do like this whole camaraderie setting mentioned in the book and the slow-developing romance between Kit and Rosie. Nevertheless the ending was predictable but other than that, the writing was engaging that the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story.
Overall this is an all too good romance that will make you laugh and cry. Worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Rosie inherits the cafe in Marigold Marina after her husband Fergus dies. Across the cafe is Kit who owned a bookshop and another shop owned by her friend Nicole. Rosie makes friends in the neighborhood and the whole neighborhood would go bar hopping to learning swimming. But then Rosie discovers some secret about her husband.
This is a cheesy romance novel and compared to her last book which I reviewed, this was a good romance book. Quite engaging and I do like this whole camaraderie setting mentioned in the book and the slow-developing romance between Kit and Rosie. Nevertheless the ending was predictable but other than that, the writing was engaging that the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story.
Overall this is an all too good romance that will make you laugh and cry. Worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
September 13, 2025
When I want a great evening of reading and relaxation this is an author, I'll visit time and again.
The café on Marigold Marina was Rosie's husbands dream but that dream didn't die when he did. Honoring his memory, she kept it running even though things had been let go and it needed a lot of work. This work helps her to not concentrate on her sadness, and she's surrounded by friends.
As the cafe becomes busier she needs extra help and the woman she hires is the sister of the man who has just opened a floating bookshop.
When Kit, the owner of the bookshop starts coming by for a daily lunch she starts taking an interest in him and his sister is ever so helpful in bringing them together.
When she finds out a shocking truth her husband had kept from her she starts to reevaluate everything including if she wants to keep running the cafe or if it's time to let her husband's dream go.
Such a fun pick me up read. For sure I'll be reading more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The café on Marigold Marina was Rosie's husbands dream but that dream didn't die when he did. Honoring his memory, she kept it running even though things had been let go and it needed a lot of work. This work helps her to not concentrate on her sadness, and she's surrounded by friends.
As the cafe becomes busier she needs extra help and the woman she hires is the sister of the man who has just opened a floating bookshop.
When Kit, the owner of the bookshop starts coming by for a daily lunch she starts taking an interest in him and his sister is ever so helpful in bringing them together.
When she finds out a shocking truth her husband had kept from her she starts to reevaluate everything including if she wants to keep running the cafe or if it's time to let her husband's dream go.
Such a fun pick me up read. For sure I'll be reading more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
March 30, 2022
Rosie was married to Fergus, who had big ideas which usually didn't go anywhere. One of those dreams was to renovate the rundown Marigold Cafe and run it. Before they got the chance to do so, Fergus died unexpectedly. So, Rosie carried on regardless, even though this really wasn't HER dream.
Naturally enough, there is drama and romance, and lots of interesting locals who end up being more like family for Rosie.
This was a really sweet book in a lot of ways. I thought Rosie was quite wonderful and I loved her plain talking, younger assistant too. Naturally, Kit plays a big part in this book and I especially love the part where he is taking Rosie swimming.
I think that this book was really about the family that we choose for ourselves. That you can be part of a community and that that community can throw its arms around you and treat you well.
It had the right balance of light and shade for me :)
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Naturally enough, there is drama and romance, and lots of interesting locals who end up being more like family for Rosie.
This was a really sweet book in a lot of ways. I thought Rosie was quite wonderful and I loved her plain talking, younger assistant too. Naturally, Kit plays a big part in this book and I especially love the part where he is taking Rosie swimming.
I think that this book was really about the family that we choose for ourselves. That you can be part of a community and that that community can throw its arms around you and treat you well.
It had the right balance of light and shade for me :)
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
May 8, 2022
This was the first of this authors books I have read and certainly won’t be my last I have definitely found a new author. This was at times both a heartbreaking and heartwarming emotional read and I was completely invested in the story from the beginning. It was also a journey of self discovery with the main character doing a lot of soul searching to find out what she really wanted from life and how to carry on after the death of her husband and also how secrets always come out in the end. It also showed a lot of community spirit of how others look out for Each other and how with a little help from real true friends you can pick yourself back up again and how with the right people behind you you can start to feel more confident and believe in yourself again
I loved reading about the location of this book and had a picture in my head of the idyllic view Rosie had from her window and also brought back memories of a fantastic barge holiday I had many years ago.
I loved reading about the location of this book and had a picture in my head of the idyllic view Rosie had from her window and also brought back memories of a fantastic barge holiday I had many years ago.
May 29, 2022
Following the sudden death of her husband, Rosie finds herself in sole charge of the café they bought at Marigold Marina. Far from able to open and start making money, Rosie has channelled her grief into this place to get it up and running.
She opens the doors with thanks to a wonderful assistant, Tabitha and spends all her time in the café. That is her life but she knows there is more to that and it seems there is a glimmer of something when she meets Kit, the owner of the book barge that she can see from her little café. A friendship blossoms.
But something is not quite right an Rosie learns about her husband and a lot about the relationship they had together. It was at these moments, I wanted to cower about the way Rosie was being treated, she just could not see what was happening to her and that frustrated me beyond belief and I think that might have spoiled the book for me a bit. However, her strength she had was clearly there and with the support of the new friends she made, Rosie suddenly found the answer.
The setting of the marina, made me think we were immiedaley by the sea but were in fact on the river in Stratford Upon Avon. I think that needed to be made a bit clearer, because at times throughout the book it really felt like we were by the sea and I had to keep reminding myself we weren’t which distracted me from the book a little. The cover implies you are by the sea, with cliffs and beaches.
A easy romantic read to while away the sunny days, but I have read stronger novels from this author and perhaps would not start with this one if you are new to the author.
She opens the doors with thanks to a wonderful assistant, Tabitha and spends all her time in the café. That is her life but she knows there is more to that and it seems there is a glimmer of something when she meets Kit, the owner of the book barge that she can see from her little café. A friendship blossoms.
But something is not quite right an Rosie learns about her husband and a lot about the relationship they had together. It was at these moments, I wanted to cower about the way Rosie was being treated, she just could not see what was happening to her and that frustrated me beyond belief and I think that might have spoiled the book for me a bit. However, her strength she had was clearly there and with the support of the new friends she made, Rosie suddenly found the answer.
The setting of the marina, made me think we were immiedaley by the sea but were in fact on the river in Stratford Upon Avon. I think that needed to be made a bit clearer, because at times throughout the book it really felt like we were by the sea and I had to keep reminding myself we weren’t which distracted me from the book a little. The cover implies you are by the sea, with cliffs and beaches.
A easy romantic read to while away the sunny days, but I have read stronger novels from this author and perhaps would not start with this one if you are new to the author.
April 7, 2022
This was a lovely read. I found Rosie a character that I could easily identify with. It was very interesting how we see her life in retrospect and from her own point of view and straight away we can see that Fergus isn’t as nice and supportive as she believes him to be. Seeing her slowly realise this was liberating, it was very well written, as what happens behind closed doors is only known to the direct people involved and Rosie had no idea what he was doing. Seeing Tabitha and Kit support her and help undo all the damage Fergus caused was lovely. They highlighted all her strengths and helped her believe in herself. Kit and Rosie are a perfect couple and I hope that we can get to see them again.
It was a wonderful feel good read.
It was a wonderful feel good read.
March 15, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC of The Café at Marigold Marina. This is my personal review.
Fergus had big dreams of renovating a dilapidated rundown café on Marigold Marina. But this was not a dream that Rosie had but she went along with it. When Fergus dies unexpectantly Rosie wonders if she wants to continue with his dream.
This book will have you wrapped up with so many emotions as you read. I enjoyed going along with Rosie as she comes to terms with losing her husband and finding herself.
Fergus had big dreams of renovating a dilapidated rundown café on Marigold Marina. But this was not a dream that Rosie had but she went along with it. When Fergus dies unexpectantly Rosie wonders if she wants to continue with his dream.
This book will have you wrapped up with so many emotions as you read. I enjoyed going along with Rosie as she comes to terms with losing her husband and finding herself.
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