Book tour: Coming Home to Maple Cottage - Holly Martin (Sandcastle Bay #3)

  

Isla Rosewood is creating a new life for herself and her sweet nephew Elliot in their cosy, yellow-brick family cottage, brimming with special memories. Living in Sandcastle Bay was never part of Isla’s plan but, after her brother Matthew’s tragic accident, her whole world changed as she unexpectedly became a mother to the little boy she adores so much. 

Leo Jackson was always known as Matthew’s fun-loving and wild best friend. But now Matthew is gone, it’s time to put his colourful past behind him. His role as Elliot’s godfather is the most important thing to him. And even though Leo and Isla are two very different people, they both want to give Elliot the childhood he deserves. 

As the three of them enjoy time together watching fireworks, baking cakes and collecting conkers, Isla begins to see a softer side to charming Leo, with his twinkling eyes and mischievous sense of humour. And, despite herself, she begins to fall for him. 

But does Leo feel the same way? Isla knows their situation is complicated but is it too complicated for true love… or will the year end with a happy new beginning for them all? 

My opinion

What a beautiful, moving, and addictive novel by Holly Martin, yet again. Holly has yet to write a book I don't love. I absolutely adore reading her books. Somehow though, 'Coming Home to Maple Cottage' had an extra spark I didn't even realize her books needed. Because even though I really loved reading the first 2 books in this series (and the series before this one), 'Maple Cottage' digs a bit deeper than the others. Elliot, as well as the issues of grief, loss, parenting and responsibilities his character introduces to this story, add an entire new layer to Holly Martin's writing. And I love it. "Sweet" is no longer enough to cover the feeling of this book. The love and attraction between all Holly's characters is always intense, but here again Leo and Isla surpass all the other romances in Sandcastle Bay and in previous series. 

The banter between the characters and the horribly embarrassing situations had me laughing out loud, I - again - had little patience for the meddlesome elderly villagers (but secretly loved them anyway), and fell a little bit more in love with Elliot with each chapter. His sweet and unbiased love and affection made me cry, as well as the wonderful and unconditional bonds of family and friendship.

Magical berry's, sand- and pumpkin sculptures, eclectic jewelry and fireworks, Sandcastle Bay is unique, meddlesome, a bit strange... but most of all a place I would love to live.

 

Read all about book #1 and #2 in the Sandcastle Bay series here:

 

About the author: 

Holly lives in a little white cottage by the sea. She studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel receptionist followed by a even more glamorous two years working in a bank. The moment that one of her colleagues received the much coveted carriage clock for fifteen years’ service was the moment when she knew she had to escape. She quit her job and returned to university to train to be a teacher. Three years later, she emerged wide eyed and terrified that she now had responsibility for the development of thirty young minds. She taught for four years and then escaped the classroom to teach history workshops, dressing up as a Viking one day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next. But the long journeys around the UK and many hours sat on the M25 gave her a lot of time to plan out her stories and she now writes full time, doing what she loves.

Holly has been writing for 8 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014. She is the bestselling author of 18 books

Follow her on Twitter @HollyMAuthor