About the Book:
Welcome to Pepper Bay. A small close-knit community where you’ll find chocolate box cottages, quaint shops, drama, friendship, and love.
Snuggle down with this cosy, feel-good, comfort read that whisks you away to a beautiful bay on the Isle of Wight – Perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Phillipa Ashley, and Holly Martin.
The Pepper Bay books are standalone stories that intertwine with recurring characters.
Honeybee Cottage: The last time Joey Walker watched Josh Reynolds leave Pepper Bay was three years ago. She decided there and then that the next time he visited she would never in a million years, even if her life depended on it, sleep with him ever again. She was done with secretly being in love with him. She couldn’t keep falling into his arms every time he was around. Josh was never going to see her as anything more than a holiday fling, or a sure thing. She had made her decision and had happily stuck to it, but only because he wasn’t around. She soon realises just how hard keeping him at arm’s length actually is when he unexpectedly turns up just before Christmas.
Josh had always loved Joey, but he knew she never took him seriously. She had no reason to. Growing up, he only went to his grandmother’s family home in Pepper Bay for the summer. As an adult, he knew that the world viewed him as a playboy heir to his grandfather’s millions. This year, he was determined to prove just how reliable he could be. He was back, and on a secret mission to get Joey to fall in love with him, because she was all he had ever wanted.
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honeybee-Cottage-Escape-uplifting-romance-ebook/dp/B08ZNMXW75
US – https://www.amazon.com/Honeybee-Cottage-Escape-uplifting-romance-ebook/dp/B08ZNMXW75
My Review:
I’m so pleased to be on the blog tour for Honeybee Cottage, the second book in K.T. Dady’s Pepper Bay series. A lovely contemporary romance, Honeybee Cottage focuses on Josh Reynolds and Joey Walker. If you read the first book in the series, you might remember Josh, as he is Jake’s younger brother. I was so eager to read his story learn about his relationship with Joey.
Josh and Joey are both such layered and dynamic protagonists, and I enjoyed their individual stories and their romance. Josh and Joey have a complicated life-long relationship, and both have been through a lot. Friends-turned-lovers, Josh and Joey haven’t seen each other in several years, and though both have changed, grown, and been through a lot, their feelings for each other remain the same. The problem is, they’ve always treated their sexual relationship as a casual thing, and Joey has vowed not to be hurt by Josh again. Josh needs to convince Joey that his feelings are deep and true and that he wants a future with her, but Joey is determined to keep Josh at arm’s length.
Josh and Joey have such wonderful chemistry, and they know each other so well, yet they have such trouble communicating with each other. There is nothing that this pair wouldn’t do for each other, but neither is willing to risk what they have by revealing their innermost desire for more. They are desperately in love, but their mixed signals, trust issues, and lack of communication cause many obstacles for them. It’s interesting to see how they work through their challenges, both from the past and present. They are compelling and well-layered characters, and their love story is sexy, angsty, and romantic.
I also like that Anna and Jake, the main characters of Starlight Cottage, the first book in the series, have minor roles in this book. I always like learning about couples after their happily-ever-after, and it was great to see how Jake and Anna’s relationship has progressed. Josh doesn’t really know Anna at the start of the story, and I loved seeing the two most important people in Jake’s life bond. I also think Anna and Jake’s love for each other really shines throughout the story. They are such a fantastic couple, and they fit in so well with the Pepper Bay community. In Starlight Cottage, Anna didn’t have a home, but it’s pretty clear she’s found her home in Jake and Pepper Bay.
Pepper Bay is a wonderful backdrop to the story. A quaint town and a tight-knit community, Pepper Bay sounds wonderful, and the holiday festivities and cheer adds to the charming optimism of the town. From the unique and charming homes to the quaint shops by the sea to the many kind, caring, and supportive people, Pepper Bay has a special place in both Joey and Josh’s hearts, and their actions and future goals show that. I love how committed they, and the other characters, are to Pepper’s Bay and its success.
This is a lovely addition to the Pepper Bay series, and I would definitely recommend it to readers of contemporary romance. I’m so thankful to K.T. Dady and Rachels Random Resources for sending me a copy of the book, and I look forward to reading more of this fun and original series!
Rating:
About the Author:
Author, reader, mum, chocolate lover, and a huge fan of a HEA. I was born and raised in the East End of London, and I’ve been happily writing stories since I was a little girl. When I’m not writing, I’m baking cakes or pottering around in my little garden in Essex, trying not to kill the flowers. I’m the author of contemporary romance, middle-grade, and the thought-provoking thriller about mental illness, The Focus Program.
Social Media Links:
Just reading about the setting in your review makes me smile. It sounds like the perfect back drop for the story. Excellent review!
Thanks so much! The setting is so charming!
I really like the sound of this one, Julie. The characters, the setting, the family connections. All things I love in a romance, small community series. I just checked and they are available on KU. Wonderful review.
I didn’t realize it was on KU. That’s great! I hope you enjoy it if you read it. 🙂
This sounds like a cutesy book! Lovely review!
Thanks, Georgia! It’s a good one!