Sarah Bennett (1)

Spring at Lavender Bay is billed as a delightfully uplifting romance. And I can say, most categorically, that it is that. Many times during the two days it took me to read it, I smiled and melted at the sweet scenes within.

I think what drew me to this book in the first place was Eleanor's Emporium, a seaside shop. It's one of those eclectic shops that sell a bit of everything, some of it a bit tacky and some of it rather lovely. I'm always drawn to shops in novels, and it was so enjoyable to show more read about Beth taking on the shop.

Beth is left the shop when Eleanor, who looked after her as a girl, passes away and so she returns to Lavender Bay from London. She doesn't know whether to stick around or whether she can make the shop work, but the presence of Sam Barnes, her friend's older brother, helps.

I loved Sam, he's a lovely character. Strong and caring, I was just rooting for this couple to make a go of it. Their scenes together are written with such intense feeling that I was enthralled by them.

I also loved Lavender Bay. It's by the sea and is a real community. Sam and his family run the pub next door to the emporium, Beth's friend, Libby, and her family run the chip shop. There's a lovely friendship between Beth, Libby and Eliza (Sam's sister) that has been there since childhood.

This is the first in a trilogy set in Lavender Bay. It would be lovely to meet up with some of the characters again and return to such a beautiful setting. This book is just adorable and so sweet. show less

I am new to the Juniper Meadows series and I thoroughly enjoyed Come Rain or Shine. I enjoyed it as a standalone but I'm looking forward to picking up the previous two books sometime soon.

Rhys is completely lovable and kind so it was no surprise when sparks flew between him and Tasha. For someone who had no time for romance, he didn't lose a minute in getting attached to Tasha. He recognised her talent and enthusiasm from the very first meeting and he spent the rest of his time hovering show more around her and fussing. He was quite adorable but I worried for Tasha when the truth about her employment would eventually be revealed. I don't like third-act breakups or unnecessary drama because the main characters can't talk to each other.
Thankfully, Rhys is no dullard and when the truth finally emerged he didn't disappoint.

I didn't like Tasha's duplicity in the beginning but I saw how she only had good intentions for improving the estate and I couldn't wait to see her quit her real job and commit to Juniper Meadows for real. I also loved her family and how terribly her mother treated her even with the best intentions as it was so hilariously over the top. She definitely added a lot of comedy to the story.

This was a lovely uplifting read by Sarah Bennett and I'm looking forward to my next visit to Juniper Meadows. show less

This is the second Sarah Bennett book that I have read and she does write such lovely and engaging stories.

Lucie Kennington is an art expert, working for a prestigious auction house. But a mix up with a painting means that she finds herself under suspicion of fraud and she is suspended from her job. To make ends meet, she takes a position at Camland Castle, aka Bluebell Castle because of the beautiful flowers that come out aplenty every year.

The new baronet of the castle is Sir Arthur show more Ludworth and Lucie finds out that everything connected with the place has an Arthurian connection. I thought this was a really lovely idea and where, in the wrong hands, it could have been a bit naff, in fact, being in the right hands, it worked really well. This is a romance and so you can perhaps get an idea of what might happen between the lovely Lucie and the gorgeous Arthur.

Lucie has other demons in her past and so she finds it hard to give her all to Arthur and the castle but rest assured there are some delicious scenes between the two of them which made me smile and caused my heart to melt.

The writing is light-hearted (just as you would expect with this genre) but still meaty enough to give depth to the story. I loved Arthur in particular and thought he was the perfect hero. He is one of triplets and I thought Tristan and Igraine were really well-drawn too. As this is the first of a trilogy I'm guessing the other two parts will focus on each of them as the main character. And here's the tiny downside for me. I felt Lucie and Arthur's story needed more of an ending. The ebook finished very unexpectedly at 94% when I was waiting for more of a conclusion. I presume though that their story will be followed up in the next two books, even if they are not the main focus, so I don't feel too bad. I know what I'm hoping for for Lucie and Arthur - let's just hope the author feels the same way!

All in all, Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle is a delightful romance, set in a beautiful and fascinating setting. It's a really easy and enjoyable read. show less

We begin with an ending, and end with a new beginning.

When first we meet Ivy, she's reeling from great changes in her life...not great as in wonderful, either. We see her at her lowest, her heart in hibernation, and her feelings on display for the world...but thank heavens for the small town she lives in. Small towns walk a fine line because everyone knows everyone and is in everyone's business, but when one of their own is wronged or in despair, they come together in spades to help, show more support, and show they care. Such is the case for Ivy...including some unexpected attention from newish arrival in town, Alex. He's easy on the eyes, is debating the purchase of a bookstore (be still my heart!) and is there for her, and only her, on this dreary gray day, but that's something she hasn't had outside of her departed mother for a very long time. It's hard to trust in the best of times, let alone the worst. Then again, Alex has his own trust issues which come to the surface at the worst possible time (of course!), but in the end, they'll come to realize just how strong they both are to not only pull themselves up by their bootstraps, but allow someone else to truly see them.

This was a novel filled with heartache, despair, surprises, endings, and new beginnings in so many ways. It shared the emotions we all feel at some point in our lives and the myriad of ways we can cope, but inadvertently reveals the promise of a new day, the chance to change our own stars, and the strength that comes from not only knowing ourselves, but sharing that with others. The author has created a wonderful community that reacts and acts much as you'd expect them too as things progress, even including a little well deserves retribution for the town gossiper, but she also manages to remind us that in all things, it never hurts to be kind. A great read for Women's Fiction fans, as well as Contemporary Romance readers.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own show less