Jill Mansell

Now this was a pleasant surprise indeed. Somehow I've had in my head for a long time that I really can't stand Jill Mansell books, but I picked this one up to make up the numbers for a 3 for 2 deal, and absolutely loved it.

I really enjoyed having the male and female points of view of a budding romance, and also other viewpoints from the key villagers and neighbours of the couple concerned. There were also some passages which made me cry, particularly at the beginning with the loss of our show more hero's sister (in the blurb, so no spoiler).

The comedy and social irony is just spot on, and the baby wasn't too intrusive - I'm not a baby fan, so it's definitely not a gooey book (thank goodness). The story made me laugh and it made me cheer, so what more can I ask for? I will be trying more Mansell books in the future. show less

This book gave me Shakespeare's 'much ado about nothing' vibes, with all the parallel love stories and misunderstandings. Each character was adorable, having their own little hiccups when it comes to falling in love. It was nice to read about how love can be transformative, coming into your life like a whirlwind when you least expect it and change it for the better. Especially for Sophie, the protagonist, who becomes a lot happier when she starts falling for Josh. I also loved Riley, the show more playboy, becoming a better version of himself after falling for Tula. show less

Jill Mansell is new to me, but, from evidence in her writing skills, is definitely NOT new to the world of writing. Her quirky characters, her witty plot line, and her all around fantastic skills, kept me hooked and smiling until the very end.

This chick-lit novel takes us to England, among the fabulous accents and friendly natives. I felt right at home from the start at Daisy's hotel. I laughed out loud through this fast but fun read. Daisy is a widow, but her marriage seemed to have been show more over long before the death. Yep. Dear hubby was a two timer! He apparently wanted his cake and to eat it, too. Daisy vowed then to stay away from any players. That is until she meets Dev. Man, was she in for a surprise with him! The two made for great laughs!

Out of all the characters, Hector, Daisy's dad was my favorite. From page one, his words, antics and obvious love for life just hooked me. He's a character that should be in ALL books everywhere!

I am forever a Jill Mansell fan. She combines hysterical fun, British charm and entertaining characters, tosses them up and throws her fans an unforgettably hilarious, 4 star chick lit novel. I am highly recommending this to everyone who loves a good laugh now and again. You'll instantly be hooked and if you're new to Jill Mansell's work, like me, you'll be hunting for more! show less

I simply adore the cover of Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay – it’s warm and relaxing, just what you need for summer. Unfortunately, I read this under a pile of blankets with a summer cold but it was just the treat I needed. Because that’s what this book is, a treat. It’s simply delicious, combining love, mix-ups, heartfelt reunions and delicious takedowns all in one big box. All the twists and turns (and some are a little out there, it must be said) are just a bonus. Meet Me at show more Beachcomber Bay is a true delight – it’s like opening a box of chocolates to find it only contains your favourites!

The overarching theme is love, in all forms and sizes. It seems that all our characters have issues that are best solved by true love in the gorgeous seaside backdrop of St Carys, a seaside resort town in Cornwall. We open with Clemency, a real estate agent, finding true love in the seat next to her on a plane, until her seatmate Sam tells her after landing that he’s married. Fast forward three years, and Clemency is single but pretty happy. Then her stepsister Belle brings home her new boyfriend, who is looking for a place in St Carys. Of course, it just happens to be Sam! Belle lords it over Clemency yet again, until Clemency decides to invent a fake relationship with Belle’s ex-crush and her best friend Ronan. Ronan is known in town for being a ladies’ man, but he’s okay with the pretend relationship as he lost his heart to mail-lady Kate months ago. Plus, he really wants to find his birth mother without upsetting his beloved adoptive mother. Painter and friend Marina hides a secret – and it’s not her annoying ex-husband, as does Kate. Will all of this unjumble itself?

Of course it will, but it’s an absolute delight getting to that point. Plus, there are even more twists (only one of which I saw coming) that make reading this novel so delicious. It’s incredibly funny in places too. And the final wedding – well, that was the piece de resistance. Master subterfuge right there! I read over half this novel in one day as it really is that much fun. The characters range from gorgeous (Ronan with his cheeky ways) to sweet (Sam, the man with a heart of gold). Even the minor characters, such as the pharmacy assistants who seem to do nothing but gossip are quirky and individual. But my favourite character was Marina’s ex-husband George who is equal parts repulsive and hilarious in his self-assured, blind faith that he is God’s gift to women!

There’s plenty to love about this book – it’s warm, witty and as sparkly as the sea on a summer’s day. Yes, it’s a fast read but it’s as satisfying as your favourite treat – without the calories.

Thanks to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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