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Donna Ashcroft
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Summer at the Castle Cafe: An utterly perfect feel good romantic comedy (Castle Cove Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Donna Ashcroft (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,280 ratings
‘Yes, yes, yes! This was the book that I have been waiting for all year! I absolutely loved it! Had me hooked from the first page… worth far more than five stars… Fab, fab, fab!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS SUMMER, MAKE IT SUMMER AT THE CASTLE CAFÉ…

When Alice Appleton’s boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, just after she has lost her mother, she‘s knocked sideways. Escaping to the stunning Dorset coast, she takes a job at the crumbling Castle Café. It’s a million miles away from her busy London lifestyle, and she knows her mum would approve. Surrounded by cream teas and welcoming faces, could the quirky seaside village be the perfect place for Alice to heal her broken heart this summer?

Mysterious and handsome Jay O’Donnell has lived in picturesque Castle Cove since he was a child. Haunted by a tragedy from his past, he’s on a mission to save as many people as possible as a lifeboat volunteer. When newcomer Alice catches his eye, Jay he has to remind himself he can have no distractions. But he begins to realise that it might just be his turn to be rescued…

As Alice and Jay find in each other someone they can really talk to, will they learn the importance of letting go to make way for second chances?

A heart-warming and gorgeously uplifting story about the importance of friendship, finding yourself and embracing the summer. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Phillipa Ashley.

Why readers are falling in love with Summer at the Castle Café:

‘Absolutely stunning from the very first page… This book is like a great big hug… wonderful… I absolutely loved it… I could give this more than 5/5 I totally would… Perfect.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Perfect!... Once I started reading it was very hard to put down… pure escapism… A delicious summer feast!’ Chells and Books, 5 stars

‘Amazing… a joy to read… I felt like I was instantly transported to the cafe and to the beautiful seaside town of Castle Cove… the perfect summer novel… from the start you'll be engulfed with delicious sounding food, lovely surroundings and delightful characters.’ The Cosiest Corner, 5 stars

‘I loved this book... Perfect for a relaxing afternoon’s reading… hard to put down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wow… It pulls you in from the very first page… touching, thought-provoking… funny.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

'OMG! A stunning debut, this gorgeous book invites ever reader to escape to Castle Cove to follow their dreams!' Erin Green

‘The perfect summer read.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘Heart-warming, funny, realistic and very romantic. Highly recommend reading this and worth far more than the five stars.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A feel-good romance… I would definitely recommend this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wonderful… summer holiday read… perfect for the beach!’ Goodreads Reviewer
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Castle Cove Series
  2. Print length
    334 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 11, 2018
  5. File size
    1.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donna Ashcroft was born in London, England and grew up in Buckinghamshire. She went to university in Lancashire and, among other things, worked as a copywriter, buyer, waitress, secretary and marketing manager.

Donna wrote novels for over ten years before being published. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and was a joint winner of the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017. She has had four books published with Bookouture and has two more coming in 2020.

Donna loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she's escaping into a romance novel or movie. When she's not reading or writing she'll probably be found hoovering ... or negotiating with her teenagers about who is doing the washing up.

You can find Donna on Twitter @Donnashc or visit her at www.donna-writes.co.uk

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B8STMQL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (May 11, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 11, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 2,280 ratings

About the author

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Donna Ashcroft

Donna Ashcroft

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A very big welcome to my author page. I wanted to be an author from the age of twelve when reading and writing were my first loves. In 2018 my first book, Summer at the Castle Cafe was published and my dream came true.

I've had fourteen books published. Seven of my books have been in the Amazon top 100 (a cause for immense celebrations in my house), one made it to number seven in the UK and US Kindle charts and Summer in the Scottish Highlands made it to number 1 in the UK, US and AU free ebook charts. I was also shortlisted for the RNA Debut Romantic Novel of the Year in 2019.

I live in Hertfordshire, with my own romantic hero, two grown up kids (who aren't always home) and two very grumpy cats. I love a happy ending and I'm never happier than when I'm escaping into a romance novel or movie.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
2,280 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a pleasant read with a beautiful love story set in a lovely English countryside. They appreciate the enjoyable characters, realistic situations, and emotional content, with one customer noting how the characters feel like real everyday people. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as an utterly remarkable debut novel.

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14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a pleasant and entertaining read.

"...I enjoyed reading this book in two evenings and into the wee hours of the night. It was worth missing some sleep as I couldnt put it down...." Read more

"...It was a quick, very emotional and engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story...." Read more

"...I've kept reading this one past 3:00 am! It's that good!" Read more

"...village of Castle Cove.... The sun, the sea, the sand, and this wonderful café, how can you help but fall in love?..." Read more

10 customers mention "Romance"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this book, appreciating its beautiful love story and satisfying plot, with one customer highlighting the lovely English countryside setting.

"R I found myself so into each character, laughing, tears, friendship and love...." Read more

"...I so loved this fantastic romance! It was a quick, very emotional and engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story...." Read more

"...and Alice‘s father could talk some sense into them (sort of) Beautiful romance in a lovely setting... hope to see some more books set in Castle Cove..." Read more

"Well written,story keep your attention from beginning to end...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, with one noting that they seem like real everyday people.

"...The people seemed like real everyday people with real life problems...." Read more

"I loved this book and the others in this series. I love the characters and can't wait for the next book in the series to come out." Read more

"...Character development is good and the action picks up in the last few chapters...." Read more

"Quirky characters and unique situations made this book entertaining. Plot wasn’t entirely predictable...." Read more

4 customers mention "Realistic situations"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the realistic situations in the book.

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story. Their trials were real, and this kept me drawn to this wonderful story...." Read more

"I love Donna Ashcrofts' writing and her very realistic situations keeping my interest beginning to end!! I've kept reading this one past 3:00 am!..." Read more

"...This love story was so charming and real... and admittedly frustrating at times... there were times in this book I wanted to reach through those..." Read more

"Quirky characters and unique situations made this book entertaining. Plot wasn’t entirely predictable...." Read more

3 customers mention "Emotional content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one describing it as light-hearted.

"...I so loved this fantastic romance! It was a quick, very emotional and engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story...." Read more

"...Touch most human emotions that we deal with every day.death, family,responsibility,fear. Overall, communication,love, conquer all." Read more

"It was light hearted, and the characters were well written." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one describing it as an utterly remarkable debut novel.

"...This is an utterly remarkable debut novel...." Read more

"I love Donna Ashcrofts' writing and her very realistic situations keeping my interest beginning to end!! I've kept reading this one past 3:00 am!..." Read more

"Well written,story keep your attention from beginning to end...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Gail A Bruenn
    5.0 out of 5 stars I would like to live in Castle Cove with the Cafe and Shops. I'd make friend quickly there.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    R I found myself so into each character, laughing, tears, friendship and love. This reading showed what holding on to guilt that you actually didnt need to if only it was shared with each other, it could of been dealt with, but you have to let go in your own time.The people seemed like real everyday people with real life problems. I enjoyed reading this book in two evenings and into the wee hours of the night. It was worth missing some sleep as I couldnt put it down. Can't wait to read the next one.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robin Loves Reading
    4.0 out of 5 stars An engaging read by a wonderful debut author.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Before Alice Appleton's mother died, she kept promising to join her in a triathlon. Now Alice it determined to participate in the town of Castle Cove's upcoming triathlon. This will be especially difficult, as she has a morbid fear of the sea. Once she meets her goal, and settles her mother's house, she plans on spending time with her father, and then traveling. Meanwhile, Jay O'Donnell sees her at water's edge during an impending storm, and as a volunteer lifeboat skipper, shows great concern. She then runs into Jay at her job, the Castle Café, as he is the carpenter hired to do repairs.

    Alice and Jay like each other just fine, but they both have issues facing them. For starters, Castle Cove is only a pit stop for Alice. Also, Jay's previous girlfriend up and moved, so, although he'd really like to date Alice, the fact that she will be moving is enough for him to try and resist her. Each of them have other serious issues facing them that could derail their relationship before it even gets off the ground..

    I so loved this fantastic romance! It was a quick, very emotional and engaging read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this story. Their trials were real, and this kept me drawn to this wonderful story. It is not all sweet love, however. There are some serious issues addressed here, and you will read of those in the pages of this book. This provided a wonderful balance that was executed perfectly in Summer at the Castle Café. This is an utterly remarkable debut novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Donna Ashcroft's writing style and I look forward to reading more of her in the future.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Lezlee A. Rutchka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful love story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book and the others in this series. I love the characters and can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.
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  • Nancy & Sluggo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another really great book with unbelievably amazing characters!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I love Donna Ashcrofts' writing and her very realistic situations keeping my interest beginning to end!! I've kept reading this one past 3:00 am! It's that good!
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  • Berit☀️✨
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Romance Lovely Setting 💕
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    4.25 Lovely Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.25

    This was a wonderful love story that really showed you the power of guilt over somebody’s life.... first of all what a lovely setting... The seaside village of Castle Cove.... The sun, the sea, the sand, and this wonderful café, how can you help but fall in love?

    Alice and Jay both have so much guilt and grief in their lives, it pretty much has dictated how they’ve lived to this point.... Alice feels the need to live an adventurous life... that is what her mother would have wanted for her... A life filled with triathlons and traveling to exotic places... it definitely does not include living a “boring“ life in Castle Cove or falling in love.... Jay is consumed with guilt and the need to keep everyone around him safe.... can he let someone new into his heart? And will he be able to let go of his need to keep control of everything around him? Even Superman couldn’t keep everybody safe and had an occasional day off...

    This love story was so charming and real... and admittedly frustrating at times... there were times in this book I wanted to reach through those pages and knock some sense into both Alice and Jay... how could they not see what was right in front of them? Thank goodness that Jay’s mother and Alice‘s father could talk some sense into them (sort of) Beautiful romance in a lovely setting... hope to see some more books set in Castle Cove....

    Strongly recommend to those who enjoy a very realistic romance💕

    *** thank you so much too Bookouture and Net Galley for a copy of this wonderful book ***
    One person found this helpful
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  • Patricia S
    3.0 out of 5 stars Summer at the Castle Cafe
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well written,story keep your attention from beginning to end.
    Touch most human emotions that we deal with every day.death, family,responsibility,fear.
    Overall, communication,love, conquer all.
    Helpful
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  • Magdalena Sieling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoy every minute of reading this book.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying plot and subplots
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Well, while I'm fairly new to reading the romance genre, I'd say this book has a good plot and subplots. The main romance has a very satisfying ending, as well as the two other romances. I'm not sure I'd class it as a romantic comedy although it has some funny moments, especially near the end. It also has a lot of character drama around coping with a pre-story death. Character development is good and the action picks up in the last few chapters. Compared to two other romances I've read, I'd have to give it 4 of 5 stars simply because I prefer not to read/hear cursing or explicit descriptions of unwed sex in books. I bought two of this author's books at the same time, so perhaps I'll be more pleased with the Tea shop one set in the same town.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Violette
    5.0 out of 5 stars Une histoire sympa
    Reviewed in France on August 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A lire en vacances
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  • Shirley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Change of pace
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    As in a triathlon we all need a change of pace and character to keep our lives fresh and fun. That is exactly what I was able to take from this lovely and believable romantic story. I have very eclectic preferences when in comes to literature. My staple is probably psychological thrillers - Dean Koontz being a favourite author, but the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child are another favourite. Recently I have branched out to some modern science fiction and fantasy, but at 60 years of age, when I realy want to relax I forgo the classics, and search for a really enjoyable romance, where I can become really involved with the characters, and care about their lives. With this book I found all that I look for in a romance, and wanted to read even more about the lovely characters. My only regret is that the finale was over all to quickly... Donna I have already purchased your 2nd novel, which I am sure will soon get me into the festive spirit, thank you xx
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  • Henpatch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Anher lovely English village story of life, love and troubles.
    Reviewed in Australia on June 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I did enjoy Summer at Castle Cove. The people of the village who of course knows all about you before YOU - the lovely yet unpredictable English summer with its changes and of course the characters whose love intertwine.
    The ups and downs and dreams and truths of everyone are cleverly woven to make this a moving story. Really liked it and recommend it to anyone.
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  • MetLineReader
    4.0 out of 5 stars A warm and heartfelt book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Whilst tinged with sadness, this is a warm and heartfelt book. I really warmed to the cast of characters and the scenes were well described - I could imagine myself on the beach with the sand between my toes!

    I was surprised that this is the only book published by this author as the book flowed so well.
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  • Megan Rose
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in Australia on August 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Love it
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