CHRISTMAS AT POLKERRAN POINT by CASS GRAFTON.
Genre ... Feel-good Contemporary Romance
Publication Date ... 22nd August 2024
Publisher ... Canelo Romance
Standalone Third book in The Little Cornish Cove series
Estimated Page Count ... 318Order Link ... https://geni.us/CAPP
Fate may have brought them together, but secrets seem destined to keep them apart...
An accident and a lost passport mean Gemma's six-month sabbatical to go travelling is not off to a strong start. She heads to Polkerran Point to stay at her aunt’s while her new passport is processed and to find temporary work in the meantime.
Enter musician Matt. Newly moved into a secluded, renovated mill – complete with a recording studio – Matt is preparing for his band’s big reunion tour. Focused on writing new music for the album, he needs a live-in housekeeper.
Even as sparks fly, Gemma can sense Matt's keeping secrets and with her role ending once Christmas is over, will there be anything to keep her in Polkerran?
A cosy, festive Cornish romance for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Cressida McLaughlin.
Despite being the third book in the series this is my first time visiting the Little Cornish Cove and what better time than Christmas?
The first question I'll doubtlessly be asked about the book is, listed as part of a series, is it really readable as a standalone novel?
My answer?
Though I'm sure many readers will be wanting to start with book one, New Dreams at Polkerran Point, after all there is the argument that by not doing so you potentially miss out on the background story of any character{s} who have appeared in previous books. For myself, despite that there were some characters who had obviously featured in book one and/or two, I thought this was cleverly written so as to be read as a novel in its own right.
The second question?
Just how 'Christmassy' is it?
Hmm! Just how Christmassy is Christmassy? Well ...
There is a delightful sense of community and goodwill throughout the book AND whilst this made for a cosy read in the run-up to Christmas; main characters, Matt and Gemma, putting me in mind of myself and Mr T {him less enthusiastic about the festivities, me, more, much more, so}, for me personally Christmas At Polkerran Point just didn't quite hit the spot as far as Christmassy reads go.
That said, it did have lots to recommend it ...
Namely, the quaint Cornish setting which, central to the story, is penned with such love that {ahhh, bliss!} I was transported right there.
There was none of the instalove that tends to annoy me. Matt and Gemma's relationship was grounded in friendship and I found myself increasingly invested in whether or not theirs was to be a happy ending despite their differing opinions on, well, not just Christmas.
I enjoyed that interlaced with the romance there was the mystery aspect to the novel. Something that, oddly enough, enhanced the overall story when it could so easily have taken away from it, keeping me intrigued from start to finish.
Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies.
In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings.
An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.
Social Media Links ...
FB ... https://www.facebook.com/cassie.grafton
X ... https://twitter.com/CassGrafton
Insta ... https://www.instagram.com/cassgraftonwriter/
With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. One of several bloggers participating in the Publication Day Push of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
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