Publication day for A Fresh Start at Polkerran Point by Cass Grafton @canelo_co #Review – Jill’s Book Cafe

I’m delighted to wish Cass Grafton ‘Happy Publication Day’ on the launch of her latest book A Fresh Start at Polkerran Point, the fourth book in her Little Cornish Cove series. Anybody who’s a regular visitor to my blog will know that I’m a big fan of this series. They all feature the characteristics I can’t resist in a book, small town community, endearing characters, warmth, and of course romance – with all the feels! The fact that is has a sea-side Cornish setting is like the icing on the cake, or maybe in this case it should be the ice cream cone on the van (sorry, that was bad wasn’t it?)

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What’s the Book About?

They’ve both been burned by love before, but will they take a second chance?

A year on from the demise of an unhappy marriage, Kate Stretton grabs the opportunity to move to the other end of the country and start afresh in Cornwall with her teenage daughter, Mollie. Unused to the slower pace of life, Kate leaps at the chance to take on Polkerran Point’s ailing annual arts and music festival.

Soon, though, she locks horns with local Rick Devonshire, the main sponsor for the festival. Rick’s marriage has fallen apart in spectacular fashion, and the last thing he needs is Kate pushing to go against the festival’s traditions.

Between unhelpful locals, taunting messages from her ex and trying to be present for her daughter, Kate’s life is rapidly spiralling out of her control. It will take the whole village to make the festival a success, but with her determination and growing friendship with Rick, she might just do it…

What do I think?

As I previously said, I’m a great fan of this series and this book didn’t disappoint. It was lovely to get back to Polkerran, because at this point it really does feel like joining old friends in a place that you’re comfortable in. It’s an opportunity to catch up with Anna and Oliver, there’s a welcome return for Matt and Gemma, and even a mention of the lovely Daniel (he was a definite favourite of mine). As always there are the assorted character’s who gather at Anna’s table for tea, gossip and a welcome dose of wit and humour. But, in addition to those old friends, there are also new ones and this book brought us Kate and Mollie.

Kate, is an old friend of Anna’s who’s moved to Polkerran, with her teenage daughter Mollie, for a new start from an unhappy marriage. A marriage that was finally shattered by a secret that Kate is loathe to reveal, but still affects her. It’s a big upheaval, new move, new job, new life. So with all that, the last thing she needs is a definitely not meet-cute with Rick Devonshire while out walking. Rick it turns out is also the grandson of the man who’s birthday celebration she’s tasked with arranging; the man who’s the sponsor of the village festival she’s volunteered to organise; the man with an adorable five year old son, and the man with a soon to be ex-wife – who it transpires has other ideas. Oh, yes, count me in. Grumpy, handsome, (almost) single dad – that’s romance kryptonite for me!

We have met Rick before in the last book, but by his more informal nickname of Dev, his grandfather Ryther also made fleeting appearances. In this book they both get their own chance to shine and Ryther’s story picks up a teasing thread that has been there since the first outing to Polkerran. But Kate and Dev, as you might expect, after a less than glowing introduction, are the two that all budding romantics will be focused on. Between two heart-weary people, it was always going to be a struggle. For good measure throw in an ailing festival to revive, parenting problems and vindictive ex’s the waters they were swimming in were well and truly muddied. But, as always in Polkerran, there’s plenty of support and eager shoves to keep things moving in the right direction. The question is, whether it will all be enough, especially when the pantomime villain, local landowner Alex Tremayne makes an unwelcome entrance. At this point I’m sticking my neck out and saying Book 5 will be Alex and Bella, with an enemies to lovers vibe. That said, I was rooting for Jean and Greg’s story for this one, but happily they are still here and they brought the ice-cream van with them.

So, whether you’ve read this series before, or this is your first outing, sit down, make yourself comfortable and let yourself escape to warm and welcoming Polkerran and all that that encompasses.

NB This is Book 4 but it can be read as a standalone, that said, it would be a shame not to start at the beginning.

About the Author

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.