Preview
  • Summer at the Cornish Café

  • The Cornish Café Series, Book 1
  • By: Phillipa Ashley
  • Narrated by: Emma Spurgin Hussey
  • Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (41 ratings)

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Summer at the Cornish Café

By: Phillipa Ashley
Narrated by: Emma Spurgin Hussey
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Publisher's summary

One summer can change everything . . .

Perfect for readers who love Debbie Johnson, Cathy Bramley and Trisha Ashley.

“Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read.” Katie Fforde

"Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!" Jill Mansell

Demi doesn’t expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get.

That’s until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin. During the course of the Cornish summer, Demi makes new friends – and foes – as she helps the dashing and often infuriating Cal in his quest. Working side by side, the pair grow close, but Cal has complications in his past which make Demi wonder if he could ever truly be interested in her.

Demi realises that she has finally found a place she can call home. But as the summer draws to a close, and Demi’s own reputation as an up and coming café owner starts to spread, she is faced with a tough decision . . .

A gorgeous story exploring new beginnings, new love and new opportunities, set against the stunning background of the Cornish coast – starring a feisty, compelling heroine who leaps off the page and encourages you to live your summer to the full.

If you loved Summer at the Cornish Cafe, don’t miss the next in the Penwith Trilogy, Christmas at the Cornish Cafe!

©2016 Phillipa Ashley (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
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Critic reviews

“Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read.” Katie Fforde

"Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!" Jill Mansell

“An utterly glorious, escapist read from a one of the freshest voices to emerge in women's fiction today. I loved every gorgeous page.” Claudia Carroll

“A deliciously entertaining twist on the Poldark tale.”
Liz Fenwick

“A glorious, tantalising taste of Cornwall, I could almost taste the salt of the sea air as I read it.” Jules Wake

“Made me want to run away to the Cornish coast immediately! Lovely, romantic summery escapism. Loved it!” Lorelei Mathias

“You can't help but fall in love with the characters in this book. With its determined heroine and smouldering Poldark-alike this sweeping love story grips you and doesn't let go until the very last page.” Helen Cox

“Summer at the Cornish Cafe hooked me right from the start, I ended up reading it in a day as I couldn't put it down. The first book in a very long time that has made me just curl up with a cuppa and lose myself in the pages. If you love Cornwall, you'll love this book.” A Cornish Mum

“Phillipa Ashley is without doubt a very accomplished writer and the picture she paints of St Trenyan enthrals the reader and makes you want to book your own holiday to Kilhallon Park. The story expertly switches between the two lead character viewpoints giving you both sides of the story. The backgrounds of the characters are beautifully told as the story that brings them together unfolds. Add in some wonderfully eccentric locals, the perfect modern villain in Mawgan Cade and a special little dog called Mitch and you have yourself a terrific cast. Summer at the Cornish Cafe is a perfect summer read for the beach wherever you take your holiday but chances are if you read this first you’ll want to be heading to Cornwall!” Bella Osborne

"Ashley's writing is deft, sexy, and full of humour." Trashionista.com

What listeners say about Summer at the Cornish Café

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book, Narration not so much.

What made the experience of listening to Summer at the Cornish Café the most enjoyable?

It's a great story. Engaging and entertaining. Characters you love. Honestly, there isn't anything bad I can say about the story.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator uses the same voice for both the main characters and because the story jumps between the two different POVs it's not always easy to know who is telling the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Glad I stuck with it!

This is the story of the difficult path two difficult people push through to take on a difficult life. I have to like that none of the characters in this book are perfect. There is no one leading a charmed life. Their actions and emotions are real and believable. The key ones have had a very rough time of it and are finding their place in the world. It very much feels like a “book 1” though. I also have to say that the narrator almost had me bailing early on. He delivery is nearly monotone, and it’s easy to get tired of listening to her.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Poldark fan must! ❤️

I have thoroughly enjoyed this modern day Poldark romance! The narration was superb!!! Highly recommended!!!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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God help me, this is a series

Unbelievably bad narration. Depressing. Just couldn't finish it and can't figure out how to return it.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Summer at the Cornish Cafe'

The author has written an interesting, but slow book. It was very hard to get into it. The reader was so disapointing. I couldn't figure out who was talking. Her voice was so uninteresting. I doubt if I will continue with this series if this reader is being used. Further editing would really help the book.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ridiculous!!

I usually love these type of stories but not this one! I found myself grimacing with the unreality of the characters and story line!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Looking for Joy

I have loved Phillipa Asheley’s other books because they have a measure of Joy in them. At this point I’m looking for books that include joy in life, even though they are set in a realistic scene. This author’s other books show the kindness and care that some people show for neighbors, friends and the world as well as joy & love. This book, though, was more uncertain and depressing throughout. Even though things get tied up, much of the book is depressing right until the last sentences. I really enjoyed Asheley’s Porthmellow Harbour series, which held a mixture of highs and lows, as well as wonderful descriptions of daily life by the sea.

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