Life hasn’t always been easy for single mum Ella, but she has just hit an all-time low; she’s jobless, loveless, very nearly homeless and, to make matters worse, now the owner of a pocket-sized pooch with a better wardrobe than her.
Packing her bags (and a bigger one for the dog), Ella sets off for the seaside town of Appledore in Devon to re-live the magical summers of her youth and claim her portion of the family ice-cream business: a clapped-out ice-cream van and a complicated mess of secrets.
There she meets gorgeous and free-spirited solicitor, Ben, who sees things differently: with a little bit of TLC he has a plan to get the van – and Ella – back up and running in no time.
Review: Although Sue Watson has written a good few books, this is the first that I have actually read. It is the first in a series about The Ice Cream Cafe that sound perfect for a summer read. The title describes this book as a laugh out loud romantic comedy, but in addition to that it is a story with many other facets. I will admit that it didn't have me hooked right from the start, but I soon got engrossed in the story and finished it in quick time. It is a really heart-warming tale. The book has a really enticing cover, that speaks of summer holidays and days out at the seaside.
The main character is Ella, of course - a 44-year-old divorcee caring for two teenage children and an ageing and sometimes forgetful mother. She has reached that stage many women will recognise where her kids are about to fly the nest and she is thinking 'what next?'. When she is unexpectedly left a legacy by an aunt she hasn't seen in over 30 years, things begin to take a turn in an unforeseen direction. From an uncertain future in Manchester, she decides on a completely fresh start, and is suddenly selling ice cream from a van in the sleepy little Devon village of Appledore and dreaming up the most delicious ice cream flavours.
There is a great deal of humour in this book, mostly emanating from Ella's mum and her forays into the world of the internet, egged on by her grandchildren. Another character that made me laugh out loud was a Pomeranian dog fostered by Ella; this little canine had an enormous wardrobe with outfits for every occasion, and Ella was obliged to dress her appropriately. Of course, there was a bit of romance as well, courtesy of gorgeous Ben, a local solicitor. On top of all that, there is a mystery running through the book that Ella must solve. It kept me guessing!
In summary, I would heartily recommend this book to anyone. The only thing I would say is that it will leave you wanting to go out and buy an ice cream, or even experiment with making some yourself; a recipe is included should you be tempted.
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