The Second Chance Tea Shop by Fay Keenan

Blurb

Second chances, new loves and scrumptious cakes, in this heart-warming novel. Following the tragic death of her beloved husband, Anna Hemingway decides it's time for a fresh start. So Anna and her three-year-old daughter Ellie, move to a picture-perfect cottage in the beautiful village of Little Somerby, and when she takes over the running of the village tea shop, Ellie and Anna start to find happiness again. But things get complicated when Matthew Carter, the owner of the local cider farm, enters their lives. Throughout a whirlwind year of village fetes and ancient wassails, love, laughter, apple pie and new memories, life slowly blossoms again. But when tragedy strikes and history seems to be repeating itself, Anna must find the strength to hold onto the new life she has built. This beautiful, life-affirming debut novel marks the beginning of the Little Somerby series, and promises to make you smile, cry, reach for a cream tea, and long for a life in the perfect English countryside.

Review

Absolutely delightful. Sweet, unhurried, full of emotion, and with an "ahhh" at the end, I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. If you expect lots of action and tension you'll be disappointed - it's a slow burner; some may say too slow in the first half, but I didn't mind the author taking her time to get to the point. The tension does ratchet up towards the end (though if I were the MC I'm not sure if I could be as forgiving). Merry was a sweetheart, and by far the best character for me - I wish all teenage girls were as lovely!!

About the Author

Fay Keenan was born in Surrey and raised in Hampshire, before finally settling in the West Country. When Fay is not chasing her children around or writing, she teaches English at a local secondary school. She lives with her husband of fourteen years, two daughters, a cat, two chickens and a Weimaraner called Bertie in a village in Somerset, which may or may not have provided the inspiration for Little Somerby.