Published 10th November 2022 by Aria, Head of Zeus.
From the cover of the book:
Escape to Cornwall with this beautiful page-turning novel set in Penvennan Cove – third book in the Cornish romance series by bestselling author Linn B. Halton!Kerra Shaw's happiness should be complete when the love of her life moves into her cottage. But there is trouble in her beloved Penvennan Cove and Kerra knows she won't be able to enjoy her new start with Ross until she's put things right.
Two struggling businesses threaten to change the beach at Penvennan Cove forever. The Lark and Lantern, an inn at the heart of the community, is struggling and a corporate chain is trying to redevelop the site. Meanwhile, The Salvager's Yard nearby is becoming an eyesore that brings down the area.
Kerra knows she can find the perfect solution, but with her eyes on the community, will Kerra miss the tensions in her own life? Can Kerra find her own happy ending, or could putting others first cost her what she deserves most?
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The life that Kerra Shaw has dreamed of since she returned home to Penvennan Cove should be coming together nicely, now that the love of her life Ross has moved into Pedrevan Cottage with her. She hopes that this will be the place where they make a future together, but trouble is brewing in the village that is beginning to affect their relationship and make the gulf that has grown between her, and her father wider than ever.
Everyone is unsettled by the changes afoot in Penvennan Cove, as struggling businesses try to adapt and stay afloat in difficult times, and the fact that Kerra's ideas have brought in outsiders to add new life and investment to the tiny community has not gone down well with everyone. But Kerra knows this is the only way for her beloved village to survive. Hopefully her determination can smooth over the cracks that are appearing in this beautiful little corner of Cornwall, but can she also find the happy ending she craves in her personal life too?
Finding Happiness at Penvennan Cove is the final book in this heart-warming trilogy about life in a tiny little coastal village in Cornwall. I am always up for a cosy story about life in a community such as this, so was really looking forward to getting stuck into the trials and tribulations of all the characters - despite the fact that I have not read the first two books in the series.
It did take me a while to get my head around who was who, and to navigate the extensive backstory Halton has crafted between them, as there are references galore to earlier events throughout this story - and a lot has clearly happened since Kerra made the decision to sell her successful London business and return to Cornwall. However, I soon started to warm to them and the parts they played in both the wider community, and in Kerra's life. There are so many interesting characters of all ages among both the longstanding and newer residents in the village, and their individual personalities carry the story along nicely as you get to know their quirks, and the intimate details of the dynamics of their friendships, family and relationship troubles, as well as the simmering rivalries between them.
There is a lot to delve into here, as to be expected in any small community that is suspicious of how outsiders might influence their way of life, and I really liked how Halton explores many of the issues that affect small villages like this through the dilemmas that face her characters - especially around how to keep the charm and essence of Penvennan while moving with the times. But for me, the real beauty of this story is simply the way Halton examines the complexities of her characters, and ties you up in the emotional side of their lives. There are no bangs and whistles, just ordinary people living, loving, and finding ways to come together, and yet their personal journeys are more than enough to keep you absorbed. Halton's Penvennan Cove seems so real that you can almost taste Mrs Moyle's saffron buns, and feel the sea breeze in your face as you stroll along the beach before stopping for a pint at the Lark and Lantern to get the gossip from Zacky. Who would not want to live among them?
I thoroughly enjoyed this homey, quiet story with its gentle romance, evocative location, and charming celebration of second chances. It carried me away to such a lovely Cornish community for some uplifting escapism, and made for perfect snuggle on the sofa reading.
Finding Happiness at Penvennan Cove is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.
Thank you to Aria for sending me a Netgalley copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the author:
For Linn, life is all about family, friends and writing. She is a self-confessed hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. When Linn is not writing, she spends time in the garden weeding or practising Tai Chi. And she is often found with a paintbrush in her hand indulging her passion for upcycling furniture.
Her novels have been translated into Italian, Czech and Croatian. She also writes as Lucy Coleman.
Thank you so much for being on the tour and I'm thrilled you enjoyed a virtual trip to Penvennan Cove. So appreciated!
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