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Mini-Review: A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle (Book #2: Cosy Kettle Series) by Liz Eeles
When Flora finds out about her husband’s secret fling, she escapes to the one place she feels safe: her beloved café, The Cosy Kettle, in the charming village of Honeyford. Serving up cream teas to her café regulars is the perfect way to soothe her broken heart, and although she’s never lived in the area, the little community welcome her with open arms.
She’s soon lodging with local eccentric Luna in her remote and beautiful Starlight Cottage, snuggled between rolling green hills. Luna’s handsome son Daniel lost his wife several years ago, and as Flora gets to know him, sharing walks through the blossom-scented woods, they both slowly begin to heal… and she realises that behind Daniel’s quiet exterior, there’s a passionate nature that makes her forget all about her ex-husband.
As she settles into her new life, hosting a baking competition for the village’s summer celebration seems like a great idea… but with Daniel’s mysterious silences leading Flora to believe he’s hiding secrets, she can’t help but wonder if she can really trust him. And when the race to bake the perfect Victoria sponge stirs up old rivalries between locals, Flora starts to feel like she’s bitten off more than she can chew.
Source: NetGalley and Bookouture Rating: 4/5 stars
The Bottom Line: At its core, this book is all about one woman taking charge of her life and her future. With a wanker for a husband and her only solace to be found in her small bookshop and café, Flora must determine if her past can be salvaged and she can move forward or if she is ready to cut ties with her past altogether and move forward. Flora’s decision regarding her future isn’t clear cut and to make an informed decision she needs time and distance from the wanker. In a most surprising turn of events, Flora finds the respite and safe space she needs in the home of Luna, a local business owner known for her eccentric ways. While with Luna, Flora finds acceptance, healing, clarity, and a potentially life-altering new romance. For what may be the first time in her life, Flora discovers herself, her own wants and desires, and a strength she never knew she had within her. The strength of this book lies in Flora’s evolution and the people involved in helping her discover where she’s been and where she needs to go in order to be truly happy. Though her journey isn’t always easy or comfortable, it is necessary and with the help of her new circle of friends, Flora finds exactly what she needs. To be sure, this is a heartfelt and heartwarming read that will absolutely appeal to lover’s of HEAs and women’s fiction.
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