If you have been following me for a while you will know I have been a Christie Barlow fan for quite a few years so I was excited to read the next in the series, A Summer Surprise at the Little Blue Boathouse. The Love Heart Lane series is so fun, light-hearted, and uplifting it’s always a pleasure to read one, and this one is no exception.
This time, we follow Bea Fernsby, who arrives at the village of Heartcross for a 2 week holiday after discovering how fiance has cheated on her….and not for the first time but certainly now for the last time. After overhearing, they are short on staff at the boat rental shop she offers to help out whilst she’s there.
This job means that she has a purpose for staying a little longer and also comes with the added benefit of accommodation in the form of an adorable blue river boat. However, after an almost accident involving a visiting child and the realisation this part of the water has no lifeguard service, she takes it upon herself to help improve water safety in HeartCross. And of course it wouldn’t be Love Heart Lane without a Love interest whom in this case is another newcomer, Nolan who sails into town for the festival, and like Bea only intends to stay there for a short break.
Out of all the recent Love Heart Lane novels I have read I feel like this one has the most happening as you have this story line and then you have the handsome, Nolan who turns up for the festival following in the wake of his late grandad who travelled the rivers and also had a summer romance whilst in the town.
This particular title isn’t just a romance like usual. We also have the quirky detective story running alongside, which I adored as I love a good mystery. I will admit I predicted the outcome early on, but these books are just so cosy and comforting that it doesn’t make any difference.
Bea is your typical fierce, independent woman with her own secrets and insecurities. She is hardworking and committed to helping the community and is the perfect addition to Heart Cross. Then we have Nolan, who is your typical good-looking, arty, slightly aloof gentleman who you can’t help but fall for as the story progresses.
If you have never read a Love Heart Lane book and you like a fun, cosy, and light-hearted read set in Scotland, you need to pick one of these up. You can read them separately as they are about different characters, but the more of them you read, the better your experience is as you often see members of the community crop up in all the other books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christie has done it again – a wonderful, cosy rom com with all the love, laughs, and emotion you could want all wrapped up in a quaint Scottish location.
Watch this space as I will be reading her newest novel, A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor in December!!
Much love ❤️
Lizzieslittlebooknook 