Book Review: High Tides and Summer Skies by Jennifer Bohnet

I am so pleased to be welcoming Jennifer Bohnet back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, High Tides and Summer Skies.

New beginnings don’t always mean painful endings . . .

A fabulous, timeless story of friendship set in Devon from bestselling author Jennifer Bohnet.

As time ebbs and flows over the summer both Katie Teague and her godmother Mattie Cranford discover their lives are at a crossroads

Mattie shackled to the family wool shop for over 50 years, feels life has passed her by. She dreams of seeing the world and shaking off a lifetime of regrets.

When Katie is made redundant, Mattie seizes the moment and asks Katie to move back to her home town of Dartmouth and breathe new life into the rundown wool shop and to her surprise Katie agrees.

As Katie settles back into the rhythm of Devon life and renovating the shop, Mattie sets off on a luxury cruise.

But the arrival of Katie’s ex-boyfriend with an unexpected dream job offer threatens to unsettle the calm waters.

Will she sacrifice the shop and Mattie’s happiness – or her own career?

*****

Haunted by the past and determined to keep the grief to herself, Mattie has never allowed herself to venture beyond the seaside town she grew up in. Taking over the family business when she was young, she resigned herself to that life.

However, when a need to spread her wings in later life begins to take hold and on hearing that her Goddaughter, Katie is in need of a job, Mattie begins to formulate a plan; one that may change more than just her life.

Having previously read Christmas on the Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet, I was excited to be invited onto the blog tour for High Tides and Summer Skies.

The front cover alone gives me the sense of a beautiful seaside town and one that I would love to visit. The setting and atmosphere continues into the novel and it made me feel like I was there, looking out at the harbour.

It didn’t take long before I had a great affection for both Mattie and Katie – both trapped by decisions they had made and unsure about making a move to change it.

Although I am younger than Mattie, she was someone I could relate to and I feel a lot of other readers will too. She takes a brave step and I wanted things to work out.

Katie was also a character I loved. She was loyal to her Godmother and stepped up when needed. I loved the relationship she had with both Mattie and Leo. Oh Leo. You are a lovely man.

Patrick on the other hand – meh. Haha.

The plot was gentle but moved at a great pace too. It covered themes of loss and grief, the Second World War and the importance of family and friendship – whether old or new. There is such a charm to Jennifer Bohnet’s books that I love and it doesn’t take me long to fall into the storytelling that her novels provide.

OK, no more as I don’t want to reveal too much.

High Tides and Summer Skies is the perfect holiday read or if you want a book that will leave you feeling happy by the end.

About Jennifer Bohnet –

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 12 women’s fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat.

She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

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High Tides and Summer Skies, previously published as Shadows of Conflict was released by Boldwood Books on 11th August 2023. Click here to buy. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.