It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for An Invitation to Seashell Bay by Bella Osborne, and sharing my publication day review. Published today (20th July) by Avon Books (although you might have spotted that it was originally published in e-book as a four part series), it’s now available as an e-book via Amazon in the UK and US, in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
It’s difficult to believe it now, but there was a time when I thought Bella’s books might not be for me – I’d got this ridiculous idea that she wrote for a rather younger reader, and not an oldie like me. But I immediately became a fan when I read The Promise of Summer – the most wonderful characters, touching and hilarious, warm and uplifting, and I loved every moment (you’ll find my full review again here). The Library wasn’t her usual romantic comedy, more of a book club read – a book I entirely adored (and, incidentally, so did my book club!), and that’s the one I chose as one of my 2021 Books of the Year (you’ll find my review here). The Girls was a little different too, with mature characters I really took to my heart, and sheer enjoyment from beginning to end (you’ll find my review here). And then, back to her trademark romantic comedies with A Wedding at Sandy Cove – and, once again, I loved it (you can read my review again here). So, her latest – yes, another romantic comedy, but I no longer need any convincing that it’ll be one I’ll enjoy…
One ambitious businesswoman.
One irresponsible heir.
A deal that will turn both their lives upside down…
To grow her craft business, Nancy is in desperate need of two things: help and money. So when a potential investor she’s looking to impress recommends an assistant, she jumps at the chance to secure both.
Freddy Astley-Davenport is a notorious playboy with zero work experience. He’s poised to inherit his family’s estate in sunny Seashell Bay – but only if he can hold down a job for six months first. His plan is to take the assistant role in name only, then do the least work he possibly can.
Nancy has other ideas, though, and the pair butt heads from day one. However, as they argue, sparks begin to fly, and they soon discover exactly why opposites attract…
An absolutely escapist, funny, feel-good summer romance. Fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson will adore Bella Osborne.
Nancy’s craft business is badly in need of a new and lucrative contract – without it, they might not be able to survive for very much longer. Her pitch – to put it mildly – turns into a bit of a disaster, but there might be a way to rescue the situation. Enter Freddy – from a privileged background and distinctly unfamiliar with the world of work, needing to show he can hold down a job before he can be trusted to inherit and manage his family’s estate – with a half-heard promise that the much-needed contract will then come her way. As a PA, he leaves rather a lot to be desired – but comes into his own when Nancy has an accident, taking her to his family estate at Seashell Bay to recover and to be cared for, introducing her to a way of life way beyond her experience.
But there’s a second storyline too, equally engaging. Nancy shares a flat with Alice, away from home for the first time, enjoying everything London has to offer, and working as a hard-pressed teaching assistant. At a club one night, she shares a kiss with a man she just can’t forget – until he reappears as the father of one of the children in her class. She thinks he’s bound to be married and out-of-bounds – but while staying with her parents (who always wrap her in cotton wool, and we slowly discover why…) and discovering he’s holidaying near by, it seems he might just be within her reach after all.
But enough of telling the story – and it really is two separate stories, cleverly run in parallel and equally engaging – and more about why I so enjoyed it. There’s plenty of humour – Alice’s schoolday experiences, Freddy’s cack-handed attempts to prove his competence in the workplace, the verbal sparring between him and Nancy, and the various animal antics – but there’s also a good balance of poignancy and sadness, beautifully handled, at times even bringing a tear to the eye. There are, of course, the expected romances – satisfying, believable, filled with warmth – with all the main characters gaining in depth and background as their stories progress. And I very much enjoyed the well-drawn supporting cast too – Nancy’s co-workers, but especially Freddy’s aristocratic (and particularly lovely) parents and their butler Paul.
With its beautifully told story (as always…), this was a book I very much enjoyed – summery, light and lovely, but with plenty of emotional depth, a few unexpected twists and obstacles along the way, and an uplifting ending that was all I wanted it to be for the characters who’d slowly won my heart.
About the author
Bella Osborne has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written a number of best-selling romantic comedies and book club reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award 2022.
Bella’s stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories.
She lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.
For more about Bella, visit her website or follow her on social media:
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