Sunrise Over Pebble Bay – Della Galton

Published By: Boldwood
Pages: 325
Released On: 05/10/2021

Talented, yet relatively unknown actress and celebration cake bake extraordinaire Olivia Lambert is running out of time. Approaching forty, she’s yet to land the role that will launch her television careers and she’s desperate to be a mum. Her new man, Phil Grimshaw from the Bluebell Cliff Hotel, seems the perfect match, but seems to be in no rush to settle down.

Having ditched her childhood sweetheart and fiancé, Tom Boyd, when he backtracked about being a dad, Olivia dreads making the same mistake again. Rocked by confessions from both her sister Ruby and Tom, Olivia knows it is time to make some life changing decisions. Then a terrifying incident off Chesil beach changes the course of her future and brings Olivia to question everything she values and loves.

*****

Thanks to Boldwood Books for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I was really struggling with another book so decided to leave that one and go with this one, and I am so glad I did. It is so warming and life-affirming, and it involves cakes and home baking which is definitely up my street. It is definitely a happily-ever-after book, which I don’t think is much of a spoiler as it is what I expected when I picked it up.

It was easy to read, comforting, and very real. There were goodies and ‘baddies’, love and loss, success and failure. There is grief, infertility, divorce, not-so-conventional parenting, self-employment and unemployment worries. But on the flip side, there is successful businesses, new and old relationships, family and friendships, love and laughter, and most importantly chickens.

Olivia is a home baker who sells her bakes professionally whilst trying to make it as an actress. She has a very handsome boyfriend, Phil, also a struggling actor. Her sister Ruby, is an artist at heart and has a little studio where she paints. They all live in a very quaint little village in Dorset. It all sounds very….me. I bake. I would love to make a business out of it. I would also love a Phil of my own. I like art and have often thought about it as a living, until I remembered I have no artistic talent. And I also yearn to live in a little seaside village. It could have been written solely for me.

It’s got a little something for everyone, and I hope I can continue on Olivia and Phil’s journey in future books.