Jessica Redland's Snowflakes over the Starfish Cafe is the latest of her novels to be set in Whitsborough Bay. It was published by Boldwood Books on 31st August.
Welcome to The Starfish Café - where you will find stunning
views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.
Two broken hearts.
Since she inherited The Starfish Café, Hollie has poured her
heart into the business, striving to keep her mother's traditions and
warm-hearted spirit alive. But behind closed doors Hollie is searching for true
happiness, as she grieves the tragic loss of her family who were once the
beating heart of the café...
An unexpected meeting.
Jake lives by two rules: don’t let anyone get close and
don’t talk about what happened. Little does he know that a chance meeting at
The Starfish Café, facilitated by a fluffy lost dog, is about to turn his world
upside down...
The chance to love again.
Can Hollie and Jake break down the barriers that have been
holding them back from finding love and happiness, before Christmas comes
around? Afterall, with courage, nothing is impossible...
My Thoughts
This is a great addition to Jessica Redland's Whitsborough Bay stories. The coastal setting is a key part of the story and you can totally picture the beautiful beaches, rockpools and gorgeous sunrises which are evoked. There are some lively characters who frequent Hollie's cafe or live locally but their stories have a certain poignancy in addition to their overall positivity.
You are given Hollie and Jake's story in alternating chapters. Seeing events through their eyes and finding out about their past as the narrative goes back and forth through time is delivered at a gentle pace. You can clearly see the similarities in their situations but also the differences in their childhoods. Family is very important. By family, I would extend this to families created by close friendships and teams of people working for a common cause. Both Hollie and Jake show their vulnerability but also growing resilience as they mature. I found this to be a warm, uplifting story told through likeable characters. There are some emotional moments but also an element of fun and a message to live for today.
In short: With courage, nothing is impossible
About the Author
Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love,
friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her
Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast
and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the
Yorkshire Wolds.
Thanks to Jessica Redland, Boldwood Books and Rachel of
Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Don't forget to take a look at these great bloggers!
Thank you very much for taking part in the blog tour for Snowflakes Over The Starfish Cafe and for sharing your lovely review. Really glad you enjoyed Hollie and Jake's emotional story and love that you found a life lesson in it x
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