For Maisie Samson, this Christmas is going to be different. After years working in a busy Cornish pub, she’s moved back to quiet Gull Island where she grew up, to help her parents run the family inn.
But even though she can’t wait for the festive season to arrive, Maisie cannot shake the memories of what happened to her last Christmas – the day she lost everything. She keeps herself busy, setting up the tree and hanging mistletoe ready for her first proper family Christmas in years.
Until a new arrival to the island walks into her bar and changes everything. Australian backpacker Patrick is looking for a job for the low season. When Maisie takes him on, she doesn’t expect him to last the week, but to her surprise Patrick is the perfect fit. Charming and handsome, could Maisie allow herself to hope that she and Patrick could be more than just colleagues?
As Christmas approaches, Maisie finds herself dreading the spring, when Patrick is due to leave. With the help of a little Christmas magic, can Maisie get the happily ever after she always dreamed of?
Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles is the first in a stunning new series from Phillipa Ashley. The perfect book to snuggle up with this Christmas.
Review: This is book 1 in the Little Cornish Isles series, a new collection from Phillipa Ashley. I very much enjoyed her last series, about the Cornish Cafe, and was interested to find out about the Cornish Isles, or Isles of Scilly. I have never visited this part of the world, but felt sure that Phillipa's writing would bring them alive for me; I was not disappointed.
The story revolves around Maisie Samson and her parents, Ray and Hazel, who own the Driftwood Inn on the fictitious Gull Island. Maisie has returned home to help run the Inn after previously having worked in a busy Cornish pub. She is preparing the Inn for the festive season and also looking forward to her 40th birthday on New Year's Eve, all the time looking back on a less than happy time last Christmas. All is not well in the seemingly idyllic little island, as Hugo Scorrier, owner of neighbouring Petroc Island, is trying to expand his resort to encompass Gull Island and perhaps win Maisie's heart into the bargain. However, blond Australian Patrick McKinnon arrives on the scene and takes on the job of barman at the Inn, bringing with him a breath of fresh air for the islanders and a chance of romance for Maisie.
This was a lovely story, really well written as you would expect from Phillips Ashley, and full of evocative details about these islands. I enjoyed the idea of people sailing between the islands in their day to day activities; it made me determined to go and visit one of these days. In addition to the call of the sea, there were the little cottages with stunning views and the flower farm, all adding to the charm of the setting. I would heartily recommend this book as a heartwarming Christmas read, perfect for getting you into the mood for the coming season.
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