Charlie’s free-spirited cousin, Delilah, has arrived in Porthgolow and is determined to lend a hand on Gertie, the cream tea bus.
When Delilah is left at the helm one day, and the Director of a new TV series being filmed in Cornwall comes aboard claiming Gertie would be the perfect addition to the set’s onsite catering, Delilah and Charlie find themselves swept up in the filming of the lavish period drama.
It isn’t long before Delilah finds herself drawn to the handsome male lead, but making rash decisions is a bad habit Lila’s trying to break. Will this be one impulsive decision too far, or a step in the right direction?
It is so wonderful to be back aboard Gertie, the cream tea bus, and touring the sensational sights of my home county, Cornwall. As I’ve said before, and in my review for the previous book in this series, I love how McLaughlin portrays Cornwall. It might be because I live locally and therefore know the area well, but it really adds to my enjoyment that she uses real places alongside the fictional Porthgolow. The beautifully written descriptions of the scenery really brings the story to life, and I’m sure will inspire a few people to visit.
When I began reading, I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Lila but after only a few chapters I found myself embracing her haphazard approach to life and really rooting for her. I think her character development was handled very subtly, but her growth was tangible throughout.
With the new instalment comes a new set of characters, this time in the form of the TV cast and crew. Although, not all of them had a huge part to play in the main storyline, each added a certain sparkle. I especially liked Bert, the true thespian and old-hand actor, as he provided some comedy through his experience and witty one-liners.
However, the real reason I have such a fondness for series’ in this genre is the returning to past characters, like revisiting old friends. This one includes a particularly eclectic set of personalties, and some of the villagers really crack me up, especially Myrtle with her busybody ways and cutting comments.
Although this book would work perfectly well as a stand alone, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning. This is an effortlessly enjoyable read, full of relatable characters and delicious descriptions that will have you packing up the car and heading for Cornwall, and I couldn’t be more excited to find out what adventures are in store for Gertie at Christmas.
** Thanks to HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley, for this ARC **
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