Portobello Book Blog

I’m delighted to be joining the booktour for the second in Jessica Redland’s Starfish cafe series and sharing my review of Spring Tides at Starfish Cafe. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for having me along as part of the tour.

About the book

Welcome back to the Starfish Café – where you will find stunning views, delicious food and lifelong friendships.

A new season…

As winter turns to spring, Hollie – owner of The Starfish Café – is feeling content as she settles into her new life with her loving boyfriend, Jake, and their adorable dog Pickle.

But when an unwelcome visitor threatens the future of her café, Hollie must stay strong to protect her family’s legacy…

A leap of faith…

Emerging from an unhappy relationship, Tori finds herself with nowhere to stay and nobody to talk to. The long-hidden secrets of her past weigh heavily on her until a chance encounter with Finley, struggling to come to terms with his own secrets, provides an opportunity to open up.

Can she find the strength to stop hiding from her past and face up to her family? Especially when that would mean letting her guard down and learning to trust again…

A fresh start…?

Little do Hollie and Tori know that their lives are about to collide at The Starfish Café and they may be able to help each other with a fresh start. After all, with good friends in your life, nothing is impossible…

My Thoughts

Spring Tides at the Starfish Café is a welcome return to the café at Starfish Point, near fictional Whitsborough Bay where many of Jessica’s other books are set. I so enjoyed reading about the developing relationship between Hollie and Jake. You don’t need to have read the first book in the series as, of course, the author includes enough backstory for the main characters for this to work as a standalone. Having already met Hollie and Jake though, I was so pleased to see how happy their love made them, especially knowing the sad stories from their past.

There are some new characters in this book too, most notably Tori. It was very interesting to read about her with her unconventional upbringing and rather eccentric family and how that impacted on her life decisions. When we meet her, she is having relationship issues with Leyton who seemed a real horror and her previous relationship hadn’t gone well either. At approaching forty, she is feeling rather cast adrift in life.

Jessica Redland brings an element of mystery to this book with the legend of Tingler’s Treasure and smuggling. There’s also the question of why ‘slimy’ Sebastian Smythe is so determined to buy the café from Hollie, something she is equally determined he won’t do!

As ever, Jessica Redland puts her characters through some difficult times but ultimately this is a warm and feel good read. Spring Tides at the Starfish Café is a lovely story about love, friendship and new beginnings and will leave you with a smile on your face. I’m really pleased that there will be a further book set at the Starfish Café and look forward to finding out what the future holds for Hollie and Jake.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3uCYFVL

About the Author

Jessica Redland is the top 10 bestselling author of over thirteen novels, including The Secret to Happiness. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.

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