"The sky wore a pastel-blue cape, with gossamer strands of feather-like clouds trailing its length. The sea glistened under a weak sun, and although the strong wind whipped the sea into white caps, crashing against the rocks beneath the lighthouse, the water barely rippled where it entered the embrace of the cove".
Isn't it a beautiful description of the Cornish coastline?! If you love Cornwall and books set in this distinctive location, you might be pleased to know there is a new book out -
Christmas at Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton.
This cosy romance set in Cornwall is the third book in The Little Cornish Cove series, which reads perfectly as a standalone. I read the first book a few years ago (see The cottage in a Cornish cove), and was happy to re-visit Polkerran Point and get re-acquainted with some of the characters from book one.
Blurb:
Christmas at Polkerran Point
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. 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?
Gemma Merriott is recovering from a scary accident on her trip abroad. Having lost all her travelling possessions and a passport, she arrives to Polkerran Point to stay with her aunt and recuperate. While waiitng for her passport, and dreaming of travelling around Europe, Gemma is looking for a temporary job.
"The die had been cast. Gemma's plans had fallen foul. Instead of exploring pastures new, she would be in the small Cornish village of Polkerran Point for the foreseeable, and... her aunt had been kind enough to invite her to stay..."
As a child, Gemma enjoyed visiting her aunt and spending time in the harbour.
It so happens, that there is a job available - as a housekeeper to a reclusive musician Matt, who stays in a newly renovated mill. Years before, Matt used to be a guitarist in the famous band. Now that the band reunion is looming, he is engrossed in his work on a new album. Domestic chores are not his forte, he needs someone to organise his life for him, and around him.
Matt appears to be a grumpy, self-absorbed arty type, not capable of looking after himself, always relying on someone else to provide him with daily comforts, from adoring adoptive parents to the housekeepers. A man-boy in some aspects...
Gemma is not sure whether she even wants to work for Matt, but the job comes with a small cottage to live in, and the money is decent.
You feel a tad sorry for bubbly Gemma, who loves her food but has zero talents in the cooking department.
The atmosphere in the house is strained, and it looks like Matt has some secrets from his past that he does not want to share.
"Rather than rigidly entrapped in the past, Matt seemed haunted by it. Lost and uncertain how to find his way forward".
Despite his aloofness, Matt is the man who sets Gemma's heart aflutter. She is intrigued. "Matt was a strange mixture, one minute dismissive, the next a vulnerable, wounded figure who needed... what, exactly?"
Living together at the mill, they learn to trust each other and break down the barriers holding them back.
Once Christmas is over, will Gemma resume her travels, leaving Polkerran Point behind?
Gemma and Matt are both likable, yet some of their habits might leave you exasperated.
Gemma is a sweet woman, with a big appetite and an excessive love of all things Christmas-related. The way she obsesses with Christmas decor probably hints there is something missing in her life.
And Matt, as much as he is busy, surely he is capable of putting his dirty clothes and wet towels in the washing machine? There's nothing remotedly romantic about washing someone else's undies.
There is a whole gallery of supporting characters providing a comic relief to the more dramatic storylines.
Just the other day I was talking about a different book set in Cornwall and mentioned the hostile locals. This village is the exact opposite - openly nosy, quirky and warm-hearted.
Anna who is the main character in book 1 of the series, is a hard-working owner of a popular B&B. She is also a talented baker, and has her hands full, yet kindly allows a daily stream of visitors.
In her place, I would dread brace myself every morning, expecting being invaded by the over-friendly locals who have no boundaries. They come daily, expecting being served free hot drinks and pastries. This sounds a bit intrusive. Anna is a saint to put up with this.
This book is the quintessential festive reading, full of mischief, nostalgia, amusing word puns. Some of the scenes, like the Christmas fayre, or the ceremony of switching on the Christmas lights in the harbour, make me think of what it would be like to spend a winter holiday in my favourite location. I often watch online the Christmas lights switch-on in Mousehole on webcam, and hope one day to see it in real life.
This story will delight the fans of Phillipa Ashley, Cressida McLaughlin, Emma Burstall and Trisha Ashley, and will make a lovely festive gift.
I believe this book would make a great Hallmark or Netflix Christmas film.
Christmas at Polkerran Point is a charming, sparkling seasonal read, light, funny and delightful.
This review is part of the blog tour for Christmas at Polkerran Point.
Many thanks to Cass Grafton, Canelo and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!
Purchase Link - https://geni.us/CAPP
Author Bio – Cass began her writing life in Regency
England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the
present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st century Cornwall.
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.
A bit of a nomad,
Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English
counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West
Country.
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
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cassgraftonwriter/
Giveaway to Win a paperback
copy of Christmas at Polkerran Point along with a small gift
bag (Open Int)
The gift bag
contains a pack of Christmas post-it notes, a Cornish coaster, a gingerbread
tree ornament and some festive-wrapped Tic Tac mints!
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