I’m delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour and sharing my review of The Cornish Confetti Agency by Daisy James, published on 12th March: my thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support. There’s no big tour poster for this one – which is good, because it means Rachel’s actually resting and recovering, as she should be! – but I do know I’m sharing today with Book Reviews by Satabdi and Tizi’s Book Review, so do pop over and see what they thought of it too.
I keep bumping into Daisy at various book-related events (well, when they were something we were still allowed!), and it’s always a real pleasure to see her – but I have been slightly ashamed that I haven’t managed to read and review one of her books since her very first, The Runaway Bridesmaid, way back in 2015 (you’ll find my review here, together with a lovely early interview). My goodness, she’s been busy since then – a few standalone books, and I know how many people loved both the Paradise Cookery School series and that Tuscan Dreams trilogy set at the Villa Limoncello (you’ll find Daisy’s Amazon author page here). But when I saw she was starting a new series, I thought it might just be the perfect opportunity to try her writing one more time… and Daisy, I’m rather sorry it’s taken me so long…
The first in a new sun-filled series from the author of the Villa Limoncello trilogy.
Welcome to The Cornish Confetti Agency!
When the grand finale of Lexie Harrington’s catwalk show ends with a disastrous twist on the ‘ice bucket challenge’, she knew her highly-strung boss would fire her on the spot. What she wasn’t expecting was to bump into her fiancé cosied up with an attractive blonde in the restaurant opposite their apartment!
Desperate to escape her heartbreak, Lexie flees to her childhood home of St Ives to hold the fort at The Cornish Confetti Agency for her best friend Freya, leader of the yummy mummy network and firm believer in ‘happily ever afters’. Little did she know that delivering a Caribbean-themed wedding in sunny Cornwall would rival the fashion industry for drama, tantrums and mysterious goings on.
Who is responsible for dousing the bridesmaid’s dress with tomato ketchup? Or hiding the bride’s beloved Jimmy Choos? Or attaching googly eyes to everything in sight?
The perfect Cornish wedding? Is there such a thing for The Cornish Confetti Agency?
I’m very much into a bit of escapism at the moment, preferring my reading a little on the lighter side, and this one fitted the bill quite perfectly. After something of a calamity at the high-profile catwalk event she’d organised, Lexie’s life goes from bad to worse when it becomes very clear that her personal life isn’t any too peachy either. She grasps the opportunity of taking over a wedding planning business in Cornwall for a while – but when things start going a bit awry there too it makes you wonder if Lexie’s run of bad luck has travelled with her.
I loved the settings, really well drawn, and the whole concept of the Caribbean themed wedding is quite inspired. But weddings involve people, those families that range from the loveable to truly horrendous (just wait till you encounter bridegroom’s mother Nadia…), and the author manages her large cast quite beautifully. Lexie joins up with local journalist Theo to try and find out who’s trying to sabotage the wedding plans, with a nice selection of likely suspects and plenty of red herrings – and there’s a rather lovely frisson between the two of them as they get to know each other better.
I really enjoyed this one – it’s a great little story, really well told, a nice easy read and a lovely introduction to the new series. The next book, Summer at the Cornish Confetti Agency, is due out 11th June, and is available to pre-order: this is a series that so many people are really going to enjoy.
About the author
Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea – china plates and teacups are a must.
Daisy would love to hear from readers via her Facebook page, and you can follow her on Twitter or on Instagram.
A huge thank you for helping me to kick off the blog tour of The Cornish Confetti Agency, Anne. I’m thrilled you enjoyed reading about Lexie and her turbulent start at the agency! Love Daisy xx
Daisy, it was an absolute pleasure xx