Oh what joy – when there are so many awful things going on in the world at the moment – a chance to revisit Bluebell Cliff, for Olivia and Phil’s wedding. I for one, cannot wait to get stuck in, to reconnect with some former characters and to meet some new ones. It’s a little like bumping into old friends that you’ve not seen for a while. Rest assured though, that this book reads perfectly as a standalone novel, but I do recommend that you read the others books in the series if you haven’t; just because you can and you will get so much enjoyment from them. Personally, Della Galton’s novels never fail to thrill, with their unique combination of romance and fun, with an amazing array of delectable characters, and often set in the most beautiful, comforting locations in my home county of Dorset.
I love the ongoing practical joke ’feud’ between maitre d’ Phil and the eccentric pig loving chef, Mr B and I loved that their relationship carried on into this book – it remained to be seen whether the joking would continue with his new Booty Busters business partner, Saskia. I couldn’t imagine her being remotely amused by his shenanigans! Mr B is certainly verbose, and seems to have an unlimited supply of bizarre words that mean the same thing, bringing us classics such as zounderkite, morosoph, fopdoodle and ninnyhammer. I confess to googling their meanings, but loved the onomatopoeia of them and the way they rolled off my tongue. Verbal diarrhoea at its best from Mr B.
Mr B’s hilarity goes a little sour when it transpires that there are problems with Booty Busters calorie controlled meals – but can it really be down to him? After all, he takes so much pride in his cooking. I find it hard to believe that he would put his professional reputation on the line. However, the desserts on the diet plan certainly didn’t sound like any diet I have ever partaken!
Harry was a gorgeous character, but I felt for him with his marital issues. His Wife was a total cow to him; a bully. She deserved nothing from any divorce, with Harry’s unreasonable behaviour amounting to not putting his socks in the laundry basket, versus her having an affair with her boss! I enjoyed the way that the relationship between Harry and Ruby started to develop, albeit slowly. Harry would be far better off with Ruby than his awful ex wife!
I thought the author dealt with Olivia’s fertility issues in a beautifully compassionate way, certain to resonate with anyone going through similar issues. The empathy exuding from the book was astounding.
My only complaint was the fact that the Bluebell Cliff Hotel is not real, as I would covet the chance to stay there.
This is a beautifully written, happy book. If only its essence could be bottled and consumed at will. It made me feel happy reading it, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. It is a Smorgasbord of delight. I sincerely hope that it will not be too long before I can get my impatient hands on the next book in this series.
Purchase link:https://amzn.to/3Gpoqw1
Eatwell Reads-Well 
What a lovely way to escape the horrible stuff going on in the news. Bluebell cliff sounds like a delightful place to visit.. even if just visiting through the pages of a book.
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