Reviewed by Emma Crowley
When Eden turns the key in the red door of Four Winds Cottage, the clifftop house where she used to holiday as a child, she is overwhelmed with bittersweet memories. She lost her mother recently, and she’s hoping Seaglass Bay will heal her broken heart.
The villagers welcome Eden with open arms, but she can’t help but notice that life is tough for them when the holidaymakers go home. Her mother always gave so much to those around her, and Eden is determined to follow in her footsteps. She sets up a community kitchen where her new friends can enjoy a homecooked meal, and as she watches people chatting over delicious stews, she feels sure that her mum would be a little bit proud of her.
But Eden’s happiness doesn’t last long. An unwelcome visitor arrives in Seaglass Bay in the form of handsome, chiselled Cam, who wants to buy the land the kitchen stands on. Eden is determined to save it and challenges Cam to a fortnight working with her so he can see how much would be lost if it closed.
As Cam rolls up his shirtsleeves and whips up his famous roast chicken, sparks fly and Eden feels a sense of triumph – he clearly can’t resist a challenge. The heat rises as they mess around in the kitchen, Cam’s dark hair dishevelled and his blue eyes shining with fun, and she realises that maybe he doesn’t have a heart of stone after all…
But just as she begins to let her guard down, Cam disappears without warning. Has she failed to win over the man she swore she’d never catch feelings for? And can she save the place that’s helped save her?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of Eden’s Comfort Kitchen to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Considering we’ve already had the pleasure of two books from Tilly Tennant this year - The Village nurse series - I wasn’t expecting anything else and was content to wait until next year for something new from this wonderful author. So imagine my surprise when I saw Eden’s Comfort Kitchen pop up and then I read the blurb and just knew I had to read it. I loved this story from beginning to end and it provided the perfect change of genre and setting amidst the numerous historical fiction books that I have read lately. I always connect with Tilly’s characters and stories and this proved to be no different. It was a captivating, wholesome, feel-good read that I didn’t wish to end. The setting of Salt Glass Bay and the people who live there really get under your skin and you are rooting for a positive outcome for everyone but in particular our main female character Eden.
Ok, the first half might have been sad in a way, as in when we are introduced to Eden she is newly arrived to the beautiful coastal village of Salt Glass Bay and is so down on herself. It was hard going at times to read about her. Not because of the writing or the plot and I don’t mean it in a bad way but I just felt she put so much unnecessary pressure and guilt on herself and always thought the worst of herself, her actions and her personality. She could see no good in anything and the fact she believed her family would be better off without her spoke volumes as to why she felt the need to flee from her family at a time when family should be as close as possible in one tight unit.
I didn’t like the fact that she behaved this way and she really needed to take a different stance on things and see that she was a good person who could do brilliant things and make those around her who love her deeply so very proud. I make it sound that this was a bit doom and gloom but it wasn’t in the slightest. It’s just the tone of the first half of the book was in line with how Eden was behaving and acting. But soon Salt Glass Bay will start to work it’s magic and the true Eden that perhaps she didn’t realise that she had harboured deep inside her will start to emerge and she will go on to do brilliant things for so many people.
Eden is grieving following the sudden loss of her mother to a heart attack just a month previously. The blame lays at her feet or so she thinks and now she is viewed as the black sheep of the family. She wasn’t an easy child growing up and some of this has carried through to adulthood. Leaving her job in a property developers behind she has rented Four Winds Cottage for six months in the hopes of revaluating her life and making a fresh start. She’ll have time to ponder her next move. Eden thinks that her sister Caitlin just feels that Eden can never take responsibility for her actions or do the right kind. Maybe there is some truth to this, but really deep-down Eden isn’t all that bad and is way too harsh on herself. Saying she doesn’t deserve comfort and understanding only punishment and blame was a bit too much I thought. I was keen to discover what exactly led to Eden feeling so woeful and guilty about everything. In a way I wanted it to live up to my expectations but on the other hand what on earth could she have done that led her to abandon her family and led her to be so utterly miserable about things?
Numerous characters are introduced as the book progresses, but this never became confusing. In fact, the more the merrier as it all added to the sense of community and friendship that was developing and it also allowed for further development of the main plot. Livia works with her mum Julia running the ice cream parlour as well as raising two children Levi and Nancy who added lots of little cute moments. I adored Livia as a character and hope that in the future she may get a book of her own. She was always on the go and never complained about the lot that she had been dealt in life. Livia became a solid supporter, confident, ally and friend to Eden and I felt this was the turning point for our main character. Her reinvention began and she knows now is the time to make her life better and do something for others. Something that gives back and with her mother looking down upon her hopefully she would make her proud. Getting a job in the local pub, The Darling Dolphin, alongside Livia and with boss Ralph, Eden sees how Ralph cares for those who are in need. That perhaps everyone in Salt Glass Bay is doing well and there are those struggling to make ends meet and need a helping hand. Ralph gives those people some food at the end of the day and here is where inspiration strikes for Eden.
The idea of a community café/kitchen sets its seeds in Eden’s mind and soon she is at hard work making her vision come to fruition. This was the turning point for Eden where she left wallowing behind and started to do good for others. She wasn’t as morose or filled with self-doubt and this is where I thought go on Eden you can do it and now is where I am starting to feel more empathy, understanding and appreciation towards you. The local scout hall is selected as the venue and Eden will fund things herself with those who can afford to do so donating a small fee for their dinner. Eden came into her own with the support of the new friends that she had made. I adored how everyone pulled together to get the venture off the ground because they knew if successful it would make such a positive difference to the community. Running the café keeps Eden occupied and she doesn’t have time to dwell on the so called mess that she has made of her life. Eden starts to feel needed and mattered and this becomes like an addiction to her. The more effort she puts into the kitchen the more she wants it to thrive. But what happens when her six-month stay is up?
For the vast majority of the book there was no romance and to be honest I was glad. There wasn’t a desperate need for it as the story itself was strong enough with characters I was caring for and a plot I was becoming deeply engrossed in. But then lo and behold it arrived in the form of former work colleague of Eden’s property developer Cam who wants to buy the land the scout hall sits upon. Eden when taking on the project knew this was for sale and that the kitchen mightn’t be a permeant fixture in the village but still she won’t go down without a fight. A challenge is given to Cam. Come and volunteer at the kitchen for two weeks and if after that he hasn’t changed his mind then go ahead and buy the land. Cam willingly accepts the bet. He comes across as witty, interesting and lovable but Eden has a bee in her bonnet about him and after all he can be ruthless when it comes to property deals. I loved the way things played back and forth between the pair as personal and professional lives started to mingle. But saying that despite cupid potentially calling it wouldn’t have bothered me if this element of the story had been present or not.
All in all Eden’s Comfort Kitchen as a delightful read which I very much enjoyed. The ending was a bit abrupt as it ended at the 80% mark on my Kindle but I do sense there is room for another story if not two or three more. I want to know what happened to the characters after I left them and there are several unanswered questions also. If you have a few spare hours then you won’t go wrong by picking up this fabulous read which will leave you wanting more.
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