Review of ‘The Little Cornish House’ by Donna Ashcroft
Due out: May 6th, 2022
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Another great page turner from Donna Ashcroft! She always delivers a plot that will keep you up all night! I started reading in an evening and completed it the next morning when I awoke. I became so engaged in the characters’ lives and their outcomes that I just did not want to stop. The digital pages fluttered past quite quickly!
The Little Cornish House is told from two viewpoints: Ruby’s and Gabe’s. Ruby has returned to Indigo Cove at her grandmother-Lila’s request for she is in danger of losing her little cottage and pottery business. On Ruby’s return, she runs into the handsome local brewery store owner, Gabe, who is trying to help Lila, too. Ruby is attracted to this strong, charming fellow but tries to keep her distance for she has had some bad romantic experiences in the past. Male figures have not served well in her life. For she has also been hurt by a father that abandoned her early on and left a trail of broken promises. So, she carries a cartload of negative feelings that have caused her to build a protective wall around her heart. Having great trust issues, she sees everything through the warped lens of past relationship failures and disappointments. Her determination to stick to her opinions and refuse to see the world in any other light, sometime causes her to miss the obvious.
Gabe has his own issues, too, and is fiercely protective of his twin brother. This leads him into some less than perfect positions and affects his own views on family. How true is the old saying that ‘blood is thicker than water’ and how far should its meaning stretch? Gabe has been taught that family loyalties and relationships are the most important ones. But can this stalwart thinking, sometimes blind him to the facts?
The Little Cornish House is bursting with a mystery at its core that definitely upsets the apple carts of many of its characters. Even though I surmised a possible outcome early on, it was still an enjoyable journey for Donna’s excellent writing carries you like a cascading wave across a glistening shore. I must note, this moreish tale contains a heavier dash of physical romance than what I have seen in Donna’s books before (at least the ones I have read) but she handles it all with expert skill. Emotions and feelings run high between Ruby and Gabe, leading to some very heightened memorable scenes between the two.
The apt setting of Indigo Cove (lovely name) on the Cornish coast gives us a warm cosy feeling and conjures up some exquisite sparkling scenes in our minds. As always, Donna paints a welcoming picture of the surroundings that serve her characters and plot well.
This novel is a lot about relationships, how they start, stall and evolve. And yes, in spite of past performances, people can change when given enough time and the right incentive. Love alters people, maybe not always at first for the best, but things tend to swing around given enough space and healthy nurturing. Healing must begin in each person in order for wounded relationships to mend.
Tucked in the folds of this story are such things as the bonds of friendship, family ties, forgiveness and trust. And a strong message of the need for second chances. To make this happen, one must take off the blinders to see the truth as it stands in all its nakedness and less than perfect glory, rather than be lost in a swirl of misconceptions. More than one character in The Little Cornish House must learn this lesson.
A lot of sensitive issues are packed into this enticing story. Many of which I have not touched upon but I will leave the rest for the reader to discover. Plus the wonderful craft of pottery-making, dishes up some delightful creative twists in the plot, too! There are many topics covered in this gem to keep you reading. I highly recommend The Little Cornish House with the big heart story. 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
