After yet another failed romance, twenty-six-year-old Callie Fulbright is giving up on love. She’s determined to throw all her efforts into her very own, brand-new café: The Cosy Kettle. Serving hot tea, cherry tarts and a welcoming smile to the friendly locals proves to be the perfect distraction, and Callie feels a flush of pride at the fledgling business she’s built.
But her new-found confidence is soon put to the test when her gorgeous ex reappears in the quaint little village. She’ll never forget the heartache Noah caused her years ago, but when they bump into each other on the cobbled streets of Honeyford she can’t help but feel a flutter in her chest…
As Callie and Noah share laughter and memories, she starts to wonder if this could be her second chance at happiness. But when Callie discovers that someone is mysteriously trying to ruin the café’s reputation… she has an awful suspicion that Noah knows who’s involved.
Was she wrong to ever trust him again? And can she find out who’s behind the lies and rumours, before it’s too late for the Cosy Kettle?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle is the first in a new series from Liz Eeles. She has left Annie and Salt Bay behind, a series of books which I loved so much, and now our attention turns to the beautiful, idyllic setting of Honeyford. I was slightly apprehensive before beginning this book in the fact that having thoroughly enjoyed Liz's first three books that maybe a new setting might not give me all the feels so to speak like Salt Bay did. But I needn't have worried in the slightest all the magic and wonderful writing is once again abundant here in spades and I loved every minute spent in the company of our main female protagonist Callie Fulbright.
Right from the opening chapter I was sucked into the story and it is such a delightful read that you readily and easily become lost in. Yes it does make you feel all warm inside but it's also an entertaining read that makes you smile with a setting you would move to in a heartbeat if it were real. I think it's so important to get the setting right, that readers can visualise it in their heads and then you take the next step and get to know the characters and learn more about their various situations and what problems they may have to deal with in the book.
I loved that we weren't bombarded with lots of different characters that we had to familiarise ourselves with, instead there were a select view which we get to know that little bit deeper. Yet as with her first series Liz mentions other people who live in the village and the role they play and I love this too because it's almost like a guessing game to see who future books could focus on. When we first meet Callie she is in a rush to get to work on time. It's the first day that her new boss is in charge of the Honeyford bookshop and she wishes to make a god impression. Unfortunately a mishap or two leads her to be a few minutes late but Flora the new lady in charge takes it all in good grace. Flora throughout the book really was an enigma. We got the briefest of glimpses into her personal life and they were tantalising because there is so much more I want to know about her. It was like the author was teasing us and I couldn't figure out why Flora's story wasn't explored alongside Callie's? Flora doesn't really know the first thing about running a bookshop but she does know the shop is in major trouble and unless herself and Callie can turn its fortunes around there won't be a bookshop in Honeyford for much longer.
Don't be fooled into thinking this is one of those bookshop books of which I have read plenty of and as much as I enjoy them I always seek that little thing that sets a book apart from the rest in that genre. This book is so much more than that and as for the café that will feature later on, I did question would it ever come into play but then on reflection the café was only a tool to enable characters to engage, to open up and to allow various other storylines to develop. Callie was a great character, she would readily admit herself that she is not perfect but she tries her best yet there are still things that hold her back. It's great to have a character with flaws, who needs to work on something both personally and professionally. It gives the reader something to focus on whilst reading the book and we can see the character grow and develop through learning many life lessons.
Callie grew up in the rougher end of town and most of her friends have now moved away. She lives with her grandfather - Gramps- who on hitting a milestone birthday has gone ever so slightly crazy but in a wonderful way. He doesn't want to let life slip him by and wants to try out daring and new experiences. He wants to live a little before his time is up whenever that may be. Gramps provided endless comedic moments but also lots of frustration for Callie in that she never knew what hair brained schemes he would get up too. But beneath it all he had a heart of gold and loved Callie dearly and would always be there for her through thick and thin even if he showed his affections through humour and some madcap schemes and ideas.
As for Callie herself she is a people pleaser and never ever does confrontation much to her detriment in the fact that the love of her life whom the reader can see she clearly still harbours a flame for – Noah - slipped through her fingers. Well I could see her viewpoint given she overheard him talking to his brother Finn and what was said would have angered anyone. Her hopes and dreams were crushed in an instant but now that the brothers have returned to Honeyford buying an old abandoned estate to do up as a luxury hotel feelings Callie kept covered up come rushing to the surface but what can she do about them if anything?
Poor Callie she is trying to deal with the exploits of her grandfather and also keeping her job and now feelings she wishes never materialised are rushing back to the surface. Noah's reappearance makes her feel unnerved and on edge. She thought she had moved on but had she? Callie is intelligent and resourceful and has great empathy for people and always looks out for her others but really she needs to be true to herself. She needed to find the strength and courage to say what she felt and get off what was on her mind. No more hiding or saying the right thing in order not to upset the apple cart. For it was doing her no favours only making her worry more. She needed to show the real her beneath the façade she presented. To show everyone there was a lot more to Callie than meets the eye and really she should not be underestimated. There was plenty she needed to get off her chest and confrontation and a few home truths needed to rear their heads but deep down I think she was a worrier and that if she did let go she feared she may never stop given how much she had been harbouring.
Callie undoubtedly had a gift for bringing people together and making them feel better and she could see Flora needed help to ensure the bookshop stays open. Her idea for a café -The Cosy Kettle – inspired by her grandmother's collection of copper kettles was an ingenious idea. The book didn't go all out and turn into a café come bookshop read instead the more human aspect of the story was developed. I loved the little unit of friends that emerged because of the café but I didn't like what someone was trying to do to ensure disaster ensued. Callie's confidence took a battering in the past but with the new café and a group of people who believe and inspire her whilst offering support maybe Callie can open the door to emotions that have been closed and bottled up for many years? Can she confront Noah and get everything off her chest? Is she brave enough to deal with the repercussions whatever they may be? I sincerely hoped she would grab the bull by the horns and go for it. What had she to loose? We can't be left wondering 'if only' forever. Sometimes a firm, solid answer is what we need to move forward in order to find what has evaded us for far too long. Living a safe and timid life will do Callie no favours she needs to be the best possible person she can be and maybe the café will the inspiration she needs to reach that person hidden deep inside her.
New Starts and Cherry Tarts at the Cosy Kettle was a fabulous read which was packed full of humour and warmth but these were nicely balanced with a more personal and deep side as Callie undergoes a journey she doesn't really realise she is on. You get a real sense of the characters inner feelings although you mightn't always agree with their actions and their viewpoints but that's natural with a book and it provides plenty for discussion. This story is uplifting and a warm cosy read with a splash of romance thrown in but will said romance fizzle or explode? Well that remains to be seen. Callie's story was a marvellous start to the Cosy Kettle series and it has left me eager for more. I was thrilled to turn the last page and discover that Flora will step more into the spotlight in the next book for she has definitely intrigued me in more ways than one. As for Callie she is a person whom I fell in love with as a character and she has made the book the brilliant and gorgeous read that it is.
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