Today I am absolutely over the moon to be part of the Blog Tour for 'Forever at Conwenna Cove' by 'Darcie Boleyn.' As well as sharing my review with you all, I am excited to be able to feature an extract from the book.
Publication date 23rd April 2018
About the book
Following heartbreak, Zoe Russell found a haven in Conwenna Cove. As the owner of the village diner and a volunteer for the local greyhound sanctuary, she’s happy with her peaceful life.
Local surfer Nate Bryson plans to leave Conwenna and see the world. He wants to shake off his reputation as a ladies man and start again somewhere new. Before departing, Nate decides to raise funds for the dog rescue home as a way of giving back to the community.
When Nate approaches Zoe to help with the charity event she sees there’s more to him than meets the eye. Nate can’t believe he’s failed to notice the kind and beautiful woman right before him. But can two such different people ever be together, especially if one of them is determined to leave?
Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Phillipa Ashley and Sarah Bennett.
About the author
Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night.
Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.
Author Social Media Links
Website: https://darcieboleyn.wordpress.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DarcieBoleyn
My Review
Anyone that knows me will know how much I have fallen in love with Conwenna Cove, so you will know how ecstatic I was to read this.
In this novel we get to find out more about Zoe and Nate, they are two very strong characters. From the early pages its clear there is a chemistry between them and as a reader you just desperately want to find out if they get together or not. They have separately both been through so much and they both just deserve happiness, I just loved hearing their story. It is so incredibly romantic. The way Nate's mother comes on the scene too, oh boy she is a character a really fantastic one too!
I just love how Darcie has included her love of greyhounds in her novels, it just makes it so lovely to see her personality and passions come across through her writing!
Forever at Conwenna Cove is the most emotional of the 3 novels, I had tears in my eyes throughout the book, and I just didn't want it to come to an end. But I think Darcie has done the series justice with the ending.
I have enjoyed every single page of each of the Conwenna Cove books and I laughed, smiled and cried so much. They are just a joy to read and they really do make you feel so good and are sure to put a smile on your face.
Conwenna Cove holds a huge place in my heart!
Extract from Forever at Conwenna Cove
Despite wearing her flat black pumps with the cushioned insoles, Zoe’s feet were throbbing by four o’clock. She loved working at her diner but some days were really hard going, physically. The first Saturday of July had been busy, which was promising for the summer ahead. Good business was good for Zoe’s bank balance. It was important to have savings and security, and she certainly had plenty of both. The diner had been very successful, which was a huge relief as she’d invested a significant portion of her inheritance in the business.
The bell over the door tinkled and Zoe suppressed a sigh. When the last customers had left, she’d hoped that she might have a quiet half hour, but she was well aware that was highly unlikely on a busy Saturday. She plastered on a smile and strode towards the family that had entered.
‘Hello there! Welcome to Zoe’s Diner. I’m Zoe, the owner.’
The tall man with wavy grey hair and small brown eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses smiled in return.
‘Well, hello there, Zoe. Say hello, kids!’ His American drawl was strong.
‘Hello, Zoe!’ The two girls and one boy at his side greeted her.
‘Let me guess… New York?’
‘New Jersey.’ The man smiled, flashing perfectly white teeth.
‘I’m from New York but I moved to New Jersey to be with Ted, many moons ago.’ The woman at Ted’s side offered Zoe a smile as dazzling as her husband’s. ‘Isn’t this a quaint little place!’ She waved her hands at the interior and Zoe looked around, as if remembering what she’d done to make the diner as pleasant a place to eat as possible.
The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a wonderful view of the harbour and, if diners sat at the front tables, they could feel as though they were actually on the water. The lighting was low, to create a relaxed atmosphere. The seats were red and chrome, and there was a black and white checked floor. The jukebox played a stream of Fifties hits, and right then Sinatra was crooning rather appropriately about New York.
‘Well, thank you for choosing to eat at Zoe’s today. Let me show you to a booth.’
When Ted and his family had settled, Zoe took their drinks order and then handed them menus. ‘I’ll be back with your drinks shortly.’
She went behind the counter, which had an open window to the kitchen, and made a start on the drinks order. Conwenna Cove attracted people from all over the world, and she wasn’t at all surprised. It was such a beautiful location and although small, it offered tourists the opportunity to soak up the wonderful Cornish experience. Zoe knew she was lucky to live in the village and to have a business there. After what had happened, she’d needed a safe place to flee to and Conwenna had been
that haven. Now she never wanted to leave. It was as if she could escape the real world and harsh reality if she just stayed at the cove.
She carried the tray of drinks back to the booth and handed them to the family.
‘Are you ready to order yet?’
She wrote the orders in her notebook, looking at each family member in turn. When she got to the older girl, she couldn’t help noticing how she played with a stud in her tongue as she spoke, and the eternity symbol tattoo under the girl’s right ear.
‘And Zoe, we’ll have an extra side of fries with that, please.’ Ted tapped his menu.
‘Sure thing. Anything else?’ Zoe scanned the family again and when she met the older girl’s eyes, she caught her knowing smile then followed the girl’s gaze down to her left arm that was exposed as she held the notebook up. The girl had spotted her own tattoo – that of a rolling wave that she’d had etched on the inside of her wrist. Zoe returned the girl’s smile, but as she walked away, her hand crept to her fringe and she patted it across her forehead to check that it was still in place. There were some marks from her past that she wouldn’t try to hide but there were others that she didn’t want anyone else to see, because she didn’t even want to see them herself.
So what do you think, Oli?’ Nate sipped his pint of lager as he waited for the vet to reply.
Oli nodded. ‘I think it would be a great idea to have another Surf for Sighthounds this summer, but have you got time to organize it?’
‘I think so.’ Nate nodded. ‘I’d like to do something to help the dogs out.’
Before I go away.
‘We could always do it a bit later on,’ Jack suggested. ‘Perhaps September time.’
Nate shook his head. ‘It has to be August.’
Jack and Oli stared at him and he realized he needed to say something.
‘Look, uh, don’t say anything about this to anyone yet, as I haven’t told my aunt and uncle, but I’ve decided to go away soon. Probably the second week of August.’
Guilt flashed through him as he thought about how good his aunt and uncle had been to him. He probably should stay until the summer was over to help out at the cafe but he was worried that if he didn’t go soon, he wouldn’t go at all.
Jack frowned. ‘Is this your bucket list trip?’
‘I told you about it before, huh?’ Nate asked.
‘One night when we’d had a few, yes. But I thought it was just one of those things.’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking about it quite a lot lately and I’m not getting any younger. Plus I’m single, footloose and fancy-free as they say, so I figured why not this year? I’ve saved enough to go, so why not now?’
‘What’s this?’ Oli asked. ‘I must’ve missed that night out.’
‘I’ve always wanted to travel a bit, for six months, possibly longer. You know, buy the plane tickets but wing the rest. I didn’t know if I’d ever do it but it feels like the time is right.’
‘Good for you.’ Oli raised his glass. ‘To foreign adventures.’
The three men clinked their glasses then drank.
Nate glanced around the Conwenna Arms, the pub where he’d spent so many nights and eaten so many meals with friends, in particular female friends. With its cosy corners and circular bar, as well as a separate dining area, it was perfect for the small village, and Nate knew it did a roaring trade in home-cooked pub meals during peak season.
‘Where are you thinking of heading?’
‘Well, I always wanted to catch the surf in Australia.’
He caught the knowing look that passed between Jack and Oli.
‘I’d also like to visit Hawaii and California. It doesn’t have to be just a surf trip but I do want it to be the main focus. Obviously, I need to plan it a bit better but I’ve only recently decided that this is the year I’ll do it. I’m thirty-four now so perhaps I could spend my thirty-fifth birthday on an Australian beach.’
‘Sounds amazing.’ Jack smiled. ‘But you’d like to run Surf for Sighthounds before you go?’
‘Definitely.’
‘Well, I’m happy to help with the planning.’
‘Me, too.’ Oli drained his glass. ‘As long as you’re happy to help with my engagement party.’
Nate laughed. ‘Exactly how big is this party going to be?’
‘Not that big. But if you could help with the food, then that would be fabulous.’
‘No problem at all.’
Thank you so much for checking out my post on the Blog Tour today! I hope if you haven't already read this you will be inspired to read it! Be sure to follow the tour too!
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