It’s such a pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of the first book in Sarah Bennett’s new Halfmoon Quay series, Just the Beginning. Published by Boldwood Books on 15th March, it’s now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. Many 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).
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned before that I was introduced to Sarah’s lovely writing by an elderly lady who I used to pick up in my car to take to our book club – where she happily joined in discussions about our challenging literary choices, but confessed to me that Sarah was her very favourite author. I couldn’t resist giving her books a try, and she rapidly became one of my favourites too – I entirely loved the Mermaids Point series, and you’ll find reviews of every single one if you pop her name into my search bar. The final book, Happy Endings at Mermaids Point, brought a real tear to my eye – I was quite upset that it would be my last visit and the individuals’ lives would be moving forward without me. But I did also really enjoy the first book in her Juniper Meadows series set in the Cotswolds, Where We Belong – you’ll find my review here of that one – and I was so sorry that I just couldn’t keep up with the whole series (but only because there aren’t enough hours in my reading day!). So I was absolutely delighted when I saw that this was the first book in another new series – it’s always good to start at the beginning – and I was so looking forward to spending time at Halfmoon Quay…
Everyone in Halfmoon Quay, the picture-perfect village clinging to the edge of the Cornish coast, knows Rick Penrose is the person to turn to for help.
Friendly and reliable, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, he’ll do anything for anyone. When his teenage crush Anya moves back to the quay for a fresh start, he has the perfect solution. She needs a job and his great uncle needs help to run his hotel. It’s a win-win.
Following the death of her husband, Anya Stokes discovered everything about her life was a lie. Without her beautiful home and the luxuries she took for granted, Anya and her daughter, Freya, have no choice but to move in with her aunt and uncle in Halfmoon Quay.
As she begins to turn her life around, Anya realises the perfect man might have been right under her nose all the time. But there’s a fine line between helping and taking over and Rick doesn’t always know where it is.
Then Anya discovers he’s been keeping things from her and it’s like the past is repeating itself…
Head to the glorious Cornish coast with bestseller Sarah Bennett for this unashamedly heartwarming and uplifting read. Perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.
After the loss of her husband, and having found that she’s not going to be able to sustain the comfortable lifestyle both she and young daughter Freya are used to, Anya is glad to find refuge with her aunt and uncle and among the community at Halfmoon Quay – even if it means living in a shed at the bottom of the garden (although, I have to say, it’s quite a comfortable shed!) and needing to find a job.
Rick remembers Anya from their teenage friendship – she never knew how he felt about her then, but he’s soon only too aware that his feelings really haven’t changed. But he’s most keen to do anything he can to help her with her fresh start – there’s rarely any problem he can’t find a solution for, even if that can make him mildly irritating at times however well-intentioned his actions. But his elderly great uncle really is struggling with everything he needs to do at the beachfront hotel he owns, Rick is getting increasingly worried about him, and Anya would be the most perfect assistant – well, so long as she can put up with his particularly gruff exterior, and is willing to do everything the way it’s always been done.
Anya’s hurt and vulnerable, determined to stand on her own feet but happy to resume friendships and relationships from happier times – including a growing friendship with Rick, however much he’d secretly rather like it to be rather more. But some of his actions – never more than trying to help, as he always does – give her real cause to doubt his intentions, make her wonder if she’s been wrong to trust him so much, and think that she might have been betrayed yet again.
Something I love about the author’s books is the way she creates communities that make you feel so much part of their everyday lives – very real individuals, just living their lives, that soon become friends you really care about. While this book would work just fine as a standalone, it’s also the most perfect start to a new series, with so many individuals I’m looking forward to getting to know rather better. The map at the book’s start helped me picture its lovely setting – but the whole book was a perfect introduction, and I soon felt entirely comfortable about being part of the community, finding out about the various relationships and family connections. And, just in case you get lost a little, there’s a really useful list of characters too. And every one of those relationships, romantic or otherwise, is beautifully drawn – with some lovely emotional touches, lots of love, plenty of smiles and laughter, but with a few tear-jerking moments too.
This was a story I thoroughly enjoyed, with a few “to be continued” threads as you’d expect from the first in a series – and I’ll certainly be looking forward to spending more time at Halfmoon Quay. And, do you know, I think there are many others who’ll really enjoy it there too…
About the author
Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.
Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.
When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.
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