I’m really delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour for Spring Tides at the Starfish Café by the wonderful Jessica Redland, and to share my publication day review: published today by Boldwood Books, it’s now available as an e-book (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and as an audiobook. Thank you, as always, to Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
You’ll know by now that I simply love Jessica Redland’s writing (but then so does everyone who picks up one of her fantastic books). I’ve been reading and reviewing them since way before she joined Boldwood and became a superstar international bestseller – pop her name into my search bar you’ll find reviews of many of her books, the ones set in Whitsborough Bay and the Hedgehog Hollow series. Because I decided to take a January break, I didn’t take part in the tour Rachel arranged for her last release, A Wedding in Hedgehog Hollow – but, of course, I’ve read it and it was a quite perfect addition to the series. But I did read and review the first in this series too, Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café (you’ll find the review here) – it totally broke my heart, but there was also so much warmth from friendship and family, the hope of a brighter future, all wrapped up in the warm hug that her books unfailingly provide. It was really lovely to see her and return the hug at the RNA Awards last month, where the book was a finalist for the Christmas/Festive Holiday award – another book and author took it away, but Jessica will always be a winner in my eyes. And this book is the second in that Starfish Café series… I was so looking forward to this one!
Welcome back to the Starfish Café – where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.
A new season…
As winter turns to spring, Hollie – owner of The Starfish Café – is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle. But when an unwelcome visitor threatens the future of her café, Hollie must stay strong to protect her family’s legacy…
A leap of faith…
Emerging from an unhappy relationship, Tori finds herself with nowhere to stay and nobody to talk to. The long-hidden secrets of her past weigh heavily on her until a chance encounter with Finley, struggling to come to terms with his own secrets, provides an opportunity to open up. Can she find the strength to stop hiding from her past and face up to her family? Especially when that would mean letting her guard down and learning to trust again…
A fresh start…?
Little do Hollie and Tori know that their lives are about to collide at The Starfish Café and they may be able to help each other with a fresh start. After all, with good friends in your life, nothing is impossible…
After all the emotion of the first book (goodness, it was wonderful – and there was plenty of happiness too!) it was so lovely to rediscover Hollie and Jake’s quite beautiful relationship – her heart might still stop when he’s called out for a rescue on the lifeboat, but she’s working on that one. And it was really good to catch up with the staff and visitors at the Starfish Café too – although one more recent one turns out to be something of a villain, destined to make Hollie’s life particularly difficult and put her future security in jeopardy. But as well as the characters I’d enjoyed before, this book also tells troubled Tori’s story – and her new friendship with Finley, also trying to find his feet again after a recent difficult time in his own life, perhaps with the possibility of that friendship developing into something more.
The emotional content of this book is so perfectly handled – a considerable amount of angst, but so sensitively handled, and balanced with moments of lightness and sheer joy. Families figure large – the loved ones who aren’t around any more, and the ones who are and seem destined to make life difficult. Tori’s rather unconventional parents haven’t always been the caring refuge she’s wanted them to be, and their relationship is a particularly difficult one, fraught by expectation and frequent disappointment. But there’s also a considerable amount of drama in this book, and the author handles that every bit as well as she does the family drama and the characters’ personal journeys.
As well as very real characters you entirely take to your heart and a few compelling storylines, there are all the lovely touches of detail that always make me love her books so much – Jake’s photography (and the way Hollie supports him), Hollie’s beach combing and the art she creates from her finds, her passion for the café and its importance in carrying forward her mother’s legacy, along with a touch of local folklore, the workings of the lifeboat station, and all the little glimpses into people’s lives. And, although there’s plenty of drama and despair along the way, there are also many moments just made for dancing in the rain. The author also has a particular ability to involve you in the lives of her characters, dipping into their back stories to flesh out their present day stories, moving seamlessly in time to earlier experiences that continue to cast a shadow.
The setting, as always, is wonderful – this time, there are seals on the shore below the café and a lovely small storyline associated with them – and you can really feel the author’s love for the surroundings she writes about, and experience the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets, along with sometimes feeling the extremes of its weather.
I really loved this book, and I’m so delighted to see that this will now be a three-book series – although don’t let that stop you picking it up as a standalone if you really want to, there’s enough well-covered back story to make that possible – as I’m certainly not ready to leave the characters behind. Highly recommended by me – Jessica Redland’s books just get better and better.
About the author
Jessica Redland is the top 10 bestselling author of over thirteen novels, including The Secret to Happiness. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.
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I too love Jessica’s books. I am looking forward to reading this series.
She’s a firm favourite of mine, Deborah – and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this series as much as I am!
Thank you so much for your amazing introduction and gorgeous review, Anne. You always manage to bring tears to my eyes with your kind words. Thrilled that you loved this second visit to The Starfish Café. Loved reading this – such a beautiful review. As always, thank you for your amazing support in championing my writing. You are as superstar and I’m so very grateful x
Apologies for the delayed response, Jessica – been in Wales for the week, and wifi wasn’t all it should’ve been. I so love your books – you know it’s always a pleasure! xx