The Unexpected Consequences of Love

December 15, 2014
A collection of would-be couples in Cornwall must overcome secrets, conflict and uncertainty to find love and their happy endings. When Josh Strachan meets photographer Sophie Wells, it's intense interest at first sight. For him. Unfortunately, after a disastrous past romance, Sophie has sworn off men for good. Meanwhile, Sophie's best friend, Tula, has moved to the idyllic St. Carys, Cornwall, to be closer to Sophie and taken a job at the hotel Josh runs with his grandmother, Dot. Tula develops a huge crush on Josh, while Riley, the neighborhood surfer playboy, gets hung up on Tula. Finally, Dot is being courted by the sophisticated widower of the woman who caused her marriage to disintegrate, much to the chagrin of her ex-husband, Lawrence. Obviously there's a lot going on in this book, and the many-layered characters and storylines weave and interconnect with cleverness and elegance. Mansell is at her best in this book, which highlights her charming voice and engaging storytelling and also spotlights her agility with characters, effortlessly twining lightness, anguish and human foible. Moments of grace brush up against unexpected plot and character twists that lead us to the expected happy endings from unexpected directions. There isn't much to complain about in this winning tale, since we are completely drawn in to the goings-on in St. Carys, though the reader might feel a little misled by Mansell's recounting of Sophie's shattering experience with her ex and his weak explanation years later. However, Josh and Sophie-ostensibly the main characters-are generally eclipsed by the more interesting and charismatic Tula and Riley and their delightfully bumpy journey to love. A graceful blend of heartbreak, humor and redemptive love.

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February 1, 2015

Mansell (Don't Want To Miss a Thing) turns her latest romantic comedy into one of misunderstandings. While all of her characters are searching for love, they're longing for people who aren't ready for it. Mariscombe House, a hotel in St. Carys, a small community on the north coast of Cornwall, is where Dot Strachan runs the hotel she owns with her grandson, Josh. Josh and his best friend, Riley Bryant, are handsome men about town, kind men, but men who won't settle for one woman. Then photographer Sophie Wells takes pictures at Mariscombe House and Josh falls hard. But Sophie has reasons for why she won't date. Josh keeps pursuing her while Riley falls for Sophie's best friend, Tula, who is hired to work at the hotel after she's fired from her waitressing job. But Tula sees Riley as a good-natured lazy player, and she's more interested in Josh. Then there are Dot's admirers: her ex-husband and a wealthy Frenchman. VERDICT A charming novel for readers who appreciate likable characters, a romantic setting, and a happily-ever-after ending. The story is humorous with delightful surprises and a treat for those who want their romances to feature more mature characters.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
The latest import from best-selling British romance-author Mansell (Don't Want to Miss a Thing, 2013) centers on the intertwined lives of the residents of St. Carys, a small coastal town in Cornwall. Sophie, a photographer, came to St. Carys to move past a disastrous relationship in her past. Josh left behind a glamorous life in Los Angeles to return to manage his family's hotel. Sophie's friend Tula follows her to St. Carys and takes a job at the hotel, where she nurses a crush on Josh, but he only has eyes for love-shy Sophie. Meanwhile, Josh's friend Riley, the town playboy, has fallen for Tula. And there's new love brewing for Josh's divorced parents as well. Mansell's tale of the stirring of love in spite of various heartbreaks and disappointments is a charming and, at times, madcap romantic comedy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)