About the Book
New year, new Willow Jenkins? All Willow knows is that she needs an escape. So, she takes an extended break from her PR job and retreats to her grandmother’s cosy cottage by the sea in Little Bluewater Bay, where a limitless supply of hot chocolate will soothe her broken heart and a limited wi-fi connection will prevent her workaholic tendencies.
This is a lovely book which has quite a bit of intrigue about it too. Willow and Noah don’t hit it off at all when they first meet and both get the wrong idea about each other. I felt there was a real Pride & Prejudice vibe about their relationship, including a contrived meeting by a well intentioned relative! It was clear that both had elements in their past which, while they weren’t entirely keeping secret, neither was ready to talk about yet. Joanne Boden showed clearly how these past events really shaped them. I really can’t say too much about that as you need to find out for yourself as the story slowly reveals what has happened.
Start the new year in Little Bluewater Bay …
I particularly liked Willow’s relationship with her grandmother Annie. Although Willow hadn’t visited for some time (a sore point for Noah), Willow was there to support her Annie after her grandfather’s death and they were such a source of comfort and encouragement to each other. Joanne Boden wrote very movingly about not just their relationship but also that of Annie and her late husband.
My Thoughts
But then Willow is asked by her grandmother to approach Noah with a very special commission, only to discover that he hasn’t painted people for a long time – and with good reason. Will he make an exception, and in doing so usher in a hopeful and healing new era for them both?
Joanne lives in Lancashire with her husband and their two sons. When she is not busy writing, she likes to take her boys to the local museums, cafes and for walks in the countryside. Joanne has published 4 non-fiction works aimed at parenting children on the Autistic spectrum, based upon her experiences as a mother of an autistic son. She has also self published a contemporary romance novel, Picking up the Pieces.
About the Author
Escape to Little Bluewater Bay is a book about fresh starts – ideal for this time of year when many of us have good intentions! It will be published by ChocLit on 31st January and is available to pre-order now. You will find buying options for various ebook platforms on the ChocLit website here: Escape to Little Bluewater Bay. My thanks to Liz at ChocLit for sending me a copy to review.
Willow is soon made to feel welcome by the friendly locals – although grumpy artist Noah Atkinson doesn’t seem to like her very much. Just what is his problem?
Willow and Noah were clearly hugely attracted to each other but both had quite emotional reasons for not wanting a new relationship and both were doing their best to deny their feelings of attraction. But oh it was fun finding out whether their hearts would finally win out over their heads!
Joanne writes contemporary romances with gorgeous heroes. Escape to Little Bluewater Bay is her debut novel with Choc Lit.
Escape to Little Bluewater Bay is a lovely story about fresh starts and second chances and set in what sounds like a fabulous and welcoming small community. It’s a place I’d love to return to in a subsequent book and perhaps find out more about some of the other characters such as Lucas who runs the indispensable local store or Pamela who works in the café.
