Portobello Book Blog

I do so enjoy Jessica Redland’s lovely, uplifting books – indeed her last book, The Secret to Happiness, was one of my absolute favourites of last year. If you’d like to read my review then click here. So I jumped at the chance to read this one. Making Wishes at Bay View was previously published as two novellas – Raving About Rhys and Callie’s Christmas Wish – but I hadn’t actually read either of those so this was completely new to me. It’s publication day for this one today so congratulations to Jessica – hope you have a wonderful time celebrating!

Callie was a character I just loved. She worked in Bay View Care Home and what I really liked about her was her obvious care for the patients in her care. In fact, caring for people was a huge part of Callie’s character. Sometimes she seemed to care a bit too much at times and that care wasn’t always appreciated. But she was that kind of loyal friend who would always stick by someone and always try to do the right thing.

Ruby was one of the residents of the care home and I just loved her and her friend Iris. Ruby had lived quite a riotous life when she was younger and it was great hearing about her stories. She had a real no-nonsense approach to life even in her later years and just said what she thought which was quite amusing at times. The friendship between her and Iris was touchingly portrayed. She had known sadness in her life too though and with Callie’s help she begins to come to terms with her past.

There’s a fair bit of romance in this book too and it’s not just confined to the younger characters. It was so sweet to see all the developing relationships either new or rekindled. Jessica Redland shows that love can bloom at any stage of life with the right person. However, she also showed what can happen when love goes wrong, when the green-eyed monster rears its head or when someone is badly let down. There is one character in particular who just has no redeeming qualities and seems determined to mess up as many lives as possible whilst blaming everyone else when it all backfires on them!

Making Wishes at Bay View is a lovely read, one which I whizzed through as I was so taken with the characters, particularly Callie. It was lovely to return to fictional Whitsborough Bay again. It may be fictional but it is based on an amalgamation of a few Yorkshire coastal towns and Jessica Redland’s affection for these places is clear. Making Wishes at Bay View is a book which is sure to leave you with a warm feeling inside, a proper feel-good piece of writing.

My thanks to Megan at Boldwood Books for the invitation to take part in the blogtour and the review copy from Netgalley. Making Wishes at Bay View is available now and you will find buying options on the publishers website here.

From the back of the book

NEVER GIVE UP ON A WISH FOR A HAPPY EVER AFTER…

Callie Derbyshire has it all: her dream job as a carer at Bay View, finally she has found the love of her life. Everything is perfect.

Well, almost.

Ex-partners are insistent on stirring up trouble, and Callie’s favourite resident, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self.

But after discovering the truth about Ruby’s lost love, Callie is determined to give Ruby’s romantic story the happy ending it deserves. After all, it’s never too late to let love in again. Or is it?

A heartwarming and uplifting novel of finding love and friendship in the least expected places from top 10 bestselling author, Jessica Redland.

About the author

Jessica Redland is the author of nine novels, including The Secret to Happiness,which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay.  Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.

Social Media Links

Twitter @JessicaRedland

Website: https://www.jessicaredland.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandWriter/