For Maisie Samson, this Christmas is going to be different. After years working in a busy Cornish pub, she’s moved back to quiet Gull Island where she grew up, to help her parents run the family inn.
But even though she can’t wait for the festive season to arrive, Maisie cannot shake the memories of what happened to her last Christmas – the day she lost everything. She keeps herself busy, setting up the tree and hanging mistletoe ready for her first proper family Christmas in years.
Until a new arrival to the island walks into her bar and changes everything. Australian backpacker Patrick is looking for a job for the low season. When Maisie takes him on, she doesn’t expect him to last the week, but to her surprise Patrick is the perfect fit. Charming and handsome, could Maisie allow herself to hope that she and Patrick could be more than just colleagues?
As Christmas approaches, Maisie finds herself dreading the spring, when Patrick is due to leave. With the help of a little Christmas magic, can Maisie get the happily ever after she always dreamed of?
Many thanks to Avon books for my copy of Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles to review via NetGalley and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Having adored Demi and Cal's story in the Cornish Cafe trilogy, I didn't think another wonderful and setting could come along and battle for my affections, yet this is what has happened. Phillipa Ashley's, Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles: The Driftwood Inn is the first in a new trilogy that easily won that battle within the first few chapters. This new series is all kinds of fabulous and I loved every minute of my time spent on the Isles of Scilly on the fictional islands created by Phillipa.
This is certainly one of the better Christmas books out there which does what it says on the tin and actually features Christmas rather than alluding to the big event rather sparingly. Not one fault could I find with the book and it's obvious that the author loved the time she spent researching and writing this book. Her love for the isles and the people who reside their shine through. I've never been to the Isles of Scilly but have watched the programme An Island Parish when it showcased this special little place with its own unique landscape and characters. Phillipa Ashley not only made me feel like I had been there many times but that I knew the characters intimately and was fully invested in their lives and the personal and professional problems they are experiencing.
It's mid October and Maisie has returned home to spend her first Christmas in 8 years with her family. They run the cosy Driftwood Inn on quiet Gull Island on the Isles of Scilly. Maisie loves her family, and of course the island where she grew up and spent so many happy years, but at the same time her return is a slight reluctant one. The reasons behind which don't become apparent for quite some time and keep the reader on their toes guessing why Maisie feels this time on the island is but a stop gap. Events of last Christmas constantly play on her mind and combined with the fact her parents who are semi-retired are considering selling the inn which she holds so dear to her heart, things clearly aren't all plain sailing.
As Gull Island is so small everyone knows each others business but this was something I liked about the book, the small community feel, the quirky characters and the fact that people realised nothing stayed secret for long. So if they wanted to keep anything to themselves they had to work at it. But sometimes a problem shared is one which can be more easily solved and the magic and spirit of the island will do its work in the most special way possible and in doing so provide the readers with a wonderful story that grabs you and doesn't let go until you finish the very last word.
Maisie without doubt was the stand out character. She was all kinds of things to all people. There for her parents and the residents when they needed her the most. She always pushed herself to the limit and with firm goals set she would do anything to achieve them. She was kind, considerate and loving but I don't think she always took the best care of herself or faced what was bothering her beneath the happy persona she presented to all. She is afraid of dealing with her feelings and commitment and romance present obstacles for her. I wanted her to experience the happiness and joy she brings to so many others but will this come with a price?
The arrival of a man Maisie briefly met and shared a kiss with turns things on their head. Patrick McKinnon is from Australia and on a trip to England. It's strange for visitors to stay for so long on the island but who's complaining when he is so handsome and helpful. Patrick really was a closed book for much of the story. He was secretive and very much kept his own personal story close to his chest. The reader could see there was a slight spark between himself and Maisie and fervently wished they could give in to it. Yet Maisie regarding these feelings really frustrated me. I wanted to shake her and say look at this hunk of a man who you have taken on to help out at the inn and here you are being elusive and not opening up to him when the opportunity presents itself. I suppose the time old saying- the path to true love never did run smooth lent itself to this book very well.
Apart from the romance element which will delight fans of the genre immensely there is the more pressing issue of Hugo Scorrier wanting to buy up everything on the island and use it for his own gain. He runs neighbouring Petroc Island as a resort of the highest quality and wants to expand his empire. His dog Basil provided plenty of comedic moments to lighten the tense situation as he runs amok at the most inopportune times. I didn't like Hugo at all, he seemed underhand and didn't speak very nicely to people at all. He put unnecessary pressure and worry on Maisie when she needed it the least.
Yet when the bad times start appearing the residents pull together led by Maisie. Maisie showed such leadership skills and her love for the island and the place she calls home may override everything else running through her head. All the other people mentioned throughout the story, Will Godfrey and his sister Jess at the flower farm on St. Saviour's Island, Javid from the Gull Island camp-site, Úna and Phyliss Barton from Hell Cove Cottages and Archie Pendower, an artist from Pendower Island, all got their little moment to shine. It all felt so lovely and warm and cosy despite the challenges they were facing. Patrick too shows his metal.
From the halfway point the story moved on at a cracking pace, even if I was reluctant that it do so, purely for the fact I didn't want this book to end. There were lots of surprises thrown in that really on reflection given the subtle hints I should have guessed at. But the surprise of the reveals overcame the fact that I missed out on the clues. The twist I never saw coming was jaw dropping in a way but it definitely made a lot of things fall into place. The question remains will there be happiness for all or will Hugo have his way and ruin the magic of Gull Island forever?
Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles more than provided the comfort and escape I was looking for at the time of reading. It kept my attention throughout and captured my imagination and showed happy endings are difficult to come by but could just be worth the fight. I can't wait to return to these rare isles where the characters walk off the page to meet you. Maisie and Patrick are certainly characters I will remember but at the same time I am looking forward to reading book two in February, Spring on the Little Cornish Isles: The Flower Farm, where our attention turns to Will, Jess and St. Saviour's Island.
All book titles in bold are Amazon UK Affiliate links which will earn me a few pence if anyone clicks through and makes a purchase - any money earned will go towards buying books or gifts for giveaways.
No comments:
Post a Comment