Christie Barlow is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, I absolutely love her books and always know without a shadow of a doubt that I'm always in for a fantastic read when I read one of her books.

It was clear from the first few chapters that some of the characters had secrets, so it was a lot of fun trying to guess what those secrets were as I progressed through the story. It definitely had me guessing and wondering what was going to happen next.

There was a couple of moments where my eyes went a bit teary, I won't mention why or where as wouldn't want to ruin the story for anyone that's not read it yet.  I've always believed that if reading parts of a book brings tears to your eyes then it is one of many signs of just how talented the author must be to cause that to happen.

The story was beautifully done, ever detail of the storytelling was perfect and spot on, it was full to the brim with every emotion imaginable. The setting and location of the story was truly magnificent and perfectly detailed. I especially loved Nollie the canal boat and the Melting Pot cafe, some yummy sounding delights in that cafe for sure.

I absolutely loved and adored majority of the characters esp little Jacob, he's completely adorable and not forgetting Sam of course, what a hero he is.   All of the characters were so very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them.

I can't recommend this book enough, so if you've not read this yet, then don't delay as you won't regret it. It's a truly wonderful and heartwarming read.

An absolutely adorable book.
I completely fell in love with the characters and the Little Rock Marina.
I seriously want to go eat at the deli and meet Bea and Nell.
I was truly hooked to this book, so drawn in with the residents I feel like I know them.
It was an emotional read too, highs and lows that gave me happy and sad tears.
I’m really sad that I’ve finished it too, I just wanted to keep reading.

Thanks to HarperImpulse and NetGalley for the review copy in return for an honest review.

Having already published Evie's Year of Taking Chances back in March of this year I wasn't expecting another book from Christie Barlow quite so soon so I was delighted to see that The Cosy Canal Boat Dream was to be published this month. Despite the few snowflakes on the cover don't be fooled into thinking that this is a Christmas book and therefore can only be read around that time, it can be read any time of year as although part of the book does take place in winter it's not a major focus.

The Cosy Canal Boat Dream was another gorgeous read from Christie that I settled into very easily and within a few chapter I found the setting of Little Rock Marina had really gotten under my skin. Admittedly the book had quite a sad opening as our main female character Nell Andrews is coming to terms with the loss of her husband, the man whom she had so many plans with, the love of her life Ollie. As we met Nell she is scattering his ashes in a place that meant to much to them. I instantly felt Nell's heartbreak, desperation and anger that life had changed so abruptly and irrevocably. She believed they were the perfect pair and they would always be together enjoying life on their narrow-boat the Nollie but a motorbike accident put paid to all that and she has to come to terms with a life she never expected to have to cope with.

We then move forward two years and it's time for Nell to start living again. No one expects or wants her to go crazy and radially change her life, nor to forget Ollie but now may be the time when she can move on bit by bit with her life and see what the future has in store for her. I enjoyed how the first few pages gave us a brief intro into Nell's life and what head-space she was in. I think if the story had continued on from that point it would have been very different and maybe just too soon for what happens to Nell and in my mind it would have been unrealistic for so much change to happen so rapidly. So it was lovely to see time had elapsed before the story began proper and we got to know the various characters. Throughout it I felt Nell never got over her grief as such as I don't think people ever really do rather they learn to live with it and move on the best way possible.

The setting of Little Rock Marina was just perfect for the book. It was like a cocoon for Nell to heal and move forward and realise what she wants to do with her life. It wasn't too big nor too small and it allowed for a cosy community feel to emanate through the pages. That's what I loved that everyone was there for each other, they looked out for one another and always wanted to help in any way they could , through the good times and the bad.

Nell is moving into a different phase of her life, she works in The Melting Pot deli run by her best friend Bea. The only thing that niggled me was that I view a deli as being a place where I would go and get cold meats etc for lunch or something but here cakes, coffee, lunch etc were served. So I think it would have been better to call it a café because I was slightly confused for a while. I know there have been heaps of books with café in the title recently and maybe the author wanted to avoid this but seeing as it wasn't mentioned in the title rather more so in the book calling it a café would have been more apt. I know this is a very minor point to raise but as the Melting Point was a vital part of the characters lives I wanted to be clear in my head as to what it was and its function in the community. It seemed to me to be a focal point for the characters where problems could be shared and discussed.

There was not one character I didn't like in this story and that's unusual for me as normally I find someone I cant stand and who is viewed as evil or the one to hate. OK the character of Kate was meant to fulfil this role but she featured so briefly I paid her scant heed to her. Nell and Bea just had the most wonderful friendship that was written so well. They were a partnership, a unit and could fall back on each other when one or the other felt weak, vulnerable or just needed that comforting word that gave then the strength to keep going.

Bea is married to Nathan with a five year old son Jacob and Nell is Jacob's godmother. Jacob stole every scene he was in with his humour and fondness for saying things things as he saw them. I did think the entire focus of the book would be on Nell and her road back to happiness so it was great to see that other characters got their moment to step into the spotlight. Bea has her own troubles to deal with, as well as competing in the best deli competition there were was a more personal side to her story aspects which brought happiness and others maybe not so much. I did think her biggest storyline kind of came out of nowhere all of a sudden and seemed random and not to have fitted in with the flow of the story up to that point but then the more it progressed towards the end it gelled well with everything. Bea and Nathan had the most wonderful marriage and I loved how Nathan was always there for Bea when she needed him, yet he always allowed her to be herself and go for what she wanted in life.

Nell's story could have been so run of the mill and could have felt like I had read it all before as in woman loses husband and then we follow their journey but Christie Barlow writes in such a way that this all felt so fresh and new and exciting and just the most warmest of stories that made you feel all good inside. Nell was becoming more independent and coming out slowly from the cloud that had engulfed her when Ollie died. It was clear she needed a project and when the old picture house came up for sale it stirred up so many fond memories for her memories of a project that herself and Ollie had hoped to work on, that she jumps at the chance to try and buy it. Personally I thought she was being a bit rash taking on such a big project and I questioned whether she would even win the auction in the first place. But one thing Nell has in spades is guts and determination and she wasn't going to be beaten.

Again the acquisition of the picture house wasn't the major focus of the book rather it slotted in amongst lots of little mini plot-lines which all came together wonderfully towards the end. Of course some romance has to feature in a book of this nature and in this case comes in the form of Guy Cornish who is Irish and at the marina to help out his brother who is recovering from an operation. Oh how I loved Guy. He was so full of charm and warmth but not so in your face and seedy like some other male protagonists can be. He knew when to step back and takes things easy. He never pushed Nell into something she wasn't ready for but I loved the chemistry bubbling away between the pair and it was only a question of when rather than if they were to take things further and how would things further develop. Guy gave great advice to Nell and but behind it all there was sense he was hiding something and if it came to light it could unsettle everything in a big way.

A new arrival at the marina stirs up plenty of questions and Nell's mother Gilly starts acting strangely too all of which adds even more drama to the story. I felt all smug that I knew exactly what had been going on but I was proven very wrong and never would have guessed the outcome. It's nice to be surprised and then discover how the revelations slot in with the overall storyline.

Little Rock Marina was a special place to read of with characters equally as special. You come to view them as friends and are rooting for each of them hoping they will find the happiness they deserve and the answers to questions and problems that are found throughout the story. I relished every moment spent with Nell and co and do hope there may be a return visit in the future. Different characters could be introduced or even just a novella to see how the characters I have come to love are getting on now. Without doubt the story that awaits you between the pages of this book which has such a gorgeous cover was a pleasure to read and was packed full of charm, cheer, comfort and lots of life lessons.

The Cosy Canal Boat Dream was a joy to read from start to finish and reaffirmed just how much I have come to love Christie Barlow's books. She has that unique ability to create that nice, warm, easy feeling we all love to experience when reading a rom-com. Yet at the same time she writes about serious, life altering issues but in the most realistic of ways that blend in well with what her readers have come to expect. I can't wait for what Christie has in store for us next.

This is definitely my favourite book from Barlow so far. I loved the setting and community feel created around the Nollie and just when I thought I'd got the plot sussed, there was the fabulous twist to keep me on my toes!

Loved this book ❤️
A perfect summer holiday read. I loved the story of Nell and the other characters who live at Little Rock Marina. For me it was great to read about Nell's life on her canal boat. The story had a page turning blend of happiness, sadness and mystery. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

It is difficult to ever imagine a world without the person you expect to spend the rest of your life with. There one minute and gone the next. Nell still hasn’t regained her feet after the sudden death of her husband, but takes solace in their floating home The Nollie.

She isn’t expecting to find another chance at love or to find something special to put all emotions and aspirations into. Her pet project is the restoration of an old movie theatre, which seems to hold more than a few secrets. More than she can even imagine.

The only downside is the fact she may have to let her best friend down when it comes to helping out in her local bakery. She has to choose whether to follow her own dreams or those of her friend.

It’s a tale of grief and the painful discovery that life can and does go on after the death of a loved one. New doors open, new people arrive and lot of new opportunities arise.

If you are looking for the kind of read that will help you relax and forget about your worries and your strife, then this will do the trick. Barlow brings the drama, there is no doubt about that, but she also delivers it with a huge portion of humour and love.

As soon as I knew Christie Barlow was setting her new book on a canal boat, I knew I had to read it. I adore living near the canal and often walk my dog past the canal boats, my curiosity making up stories about the people who live in them as I do! We even have a Folk and Boat festival nearby which attracts an even bigger influx of the most intricately painted and detailed boats, all celebrated in a weekend of fun, food and frivolity! So I couldn’t wait to see how Christie brought her marina to life and what an AMAZING job she did! I just wanted to go there and drink hot chocolate in The Melting Pot as I soaked up the charming atmosphere of Little Rock marina.

I must start by saying that Christie Barlow always has THE BEST covers and a move to Harper Impulse hasn’t dulled her sparkle. This cover is just glorious and will no doubt be right up there in my top rated of 2017. As will this book! I have loved all Christies books so far but this one is on a different level! Likeable and relatable characters are pushed to their emotional limits in a plot that had me in tears far more than I was expecting! I had so much empathy for the affable Nell and the twists and turns in her life delivered the full emotional spectrum as I shared in her highs and lows. There was an ample supporting cast of quirky and interesting characters who felt convincing and genuine-honestly you are going to want to believe you can go and visit this marina!

This is definitely Christie Barlows best book so far. Her captivating and beautifully written plot managed to make me sob out loud (I mean, real snotty tears were shed by me!!) and then leave me with an overwhelming feeling of loss by the time I realised that it was all over! I do like to think though that Little Rock marina still lives on in some parallel universe somewhere and that one day I will get to go there again. Highly recommended by me!

I absolutely loved every minute of The Cosy Canal Boat Dream, it truly was a fabulous read, loved the characters of Nell Andrews and Guy Cornish, the setting was perfect and felt I was there!!

Christie Barlow has a knack for creating interesting characters who find themselves in a variety of situations. This is my third novel by Christie and I can say without a doubt it is my favourite. This for me is the one that got all the ingredients just right - completely held my attention from start to finish. Oh, and when I did finish I was sad to say goodbye the community of characters that are the residents of this story. Such a lovely tale.

Nell lives on a narrow boat called Nollie, a combination of her name and her late husband Ollie's name in a lovely little marina that has a real sense of community. She has a wonderful mum, Gilly, a super best friend, Bea and a comfortable existence helping Bea out with her deli. Nell isn't really looking for anything more at this point in time, two years after the death of her husband in a road accident. But sometimes love doesn't wait to be invited in, it just walks right up in the form of a handsome Irishman, Guy.

This story is filled with little moments and big events that you don't always quite expect. Nell's adventures to buy and renew the local cinema - a beautiful grand old building where she had her first date with Ollie is absolutely engaging. The mystery of her mother's determination to stop her from buying the cinema is intriguing. And why did Guy leave Ireland, was it just to help his brother, Ed , to recover from illness or is there more to his story. I didn't put this book down - I had to read it in one sitting because I was enjoying Nell's life so much. I can say 100 percent that this author is one to keep on reading - I can't wait to see who comes to life next.

I really enjoyed this book. The waterside setting provided a cast of characters I could really imagine all living near to each other with as community feel that made them close friends. Guy is a great hero, kind, handsome, keen to do the rught thing, and with an Irish twinkle in his eyes! And Nell starts as a sad widow but ends the book happy, successful and doing the things she has always wanted to do. A feelgood story, with a few twists to lift it above the norm.

Fantastic book so warm and cozy with a little bit of mystery thrown in. I absolutely love Christies books

The Cosy canal boat dream

This is such a heart meltingly touching story that I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact I feel quite bereft at leaving the characters behind.

The story follows Nell who is trying hard to carry on with her life after losing her lovely husband Ollie a couple of years before.
One day she meets a handsome Irish man called Guy and helps him look for his dog. They do find him but they also find so much more in each other.
Nell is a lovely person who is loyal to her best friend Bea and to the memory of her late husband. The moments she spent talking to him on the bridge were very touching and heartbreaking. It was an interesting dynamic to show her almost being pulled in two directions between her eternal love for Ollie and the potential for a new love with Guy and this was handled beautifully.
The story became even more interesting with the mysterious stranger who turned up at the marina on a canal boat and many secrets were unearthed. I felt I knew what was going to happen and then whoosh the rug was pulled from beneath my feet with quite a shocking revelation.

I enjoyed this book immensely and felt embraced in the warmth of the setting and the wonderful characters.

Well done Christie and thank you to Harper Impulse for the ARC looking forward to the next one already.

Fantastic book by Christie Barlow her best to date and i hope there is a sequal.

When I pick up a Christie Barlow book I feel like I’m getting a warm hug from an old friend. They’re always warm and cozy, this one even has cozy in the title! So I already knew I was in for a treat when I started this one but I wasn’t aware that I was about to read my new favorite Barlow book.

Nell was the type of character that I liked right away, she has an incredibly painful past, somehow I was teary eyed in the first chapter?! But she was a woman who I immediately felt a connection with, I was invested in her from the first page. She has a best friend named Bea and their friendship was so sweet and genuine. Bea’s family was also adorable and so supportive of Nell which she desperately needed. The entire cast of characters were lovely and had their own distinctive personalities that made up a great community, I would love to live in a place like Little Rock Marina!

Guy is Nell’s love interest and there was a bit of a mystery surrounding his past and there was also an additional mystery that threw me for a loop. You basically get a little bit of everything here, there’s romance, humor, warmth, family secrets and a lovely setting that serves as a backdrop. This was such a delightful read, I enjoyed every single page and it reminded me why Barlow is one of my favorite women’s fiction writers.

Barlow's book, <i>The Cosy Canal Boat Dream</i>, had all the makings of a brilliant chick lit read; likeable characters, two broken-hearted individuals joining together to find their happy ending, and plenty of other things going on in the background to add substance to the story. I enjoyed getting to know Nell and the wonderful Guy, and the other less prominent characters. I loved that there was even a twist in the story which you don't always get with chick lit fiction like this, and although the plot twist was very easy to work out, it was a nice change from the usual boy meets girl and plain sails through to the happy ending.

Now bearing in mind I had an advanced reader copy, it is difficult to tell whether some of the issues with the writing are due to this being a pre-published release, or whether these are actually things that will end up in the final copy. There were unfortunately several things that bothered me about the writing; the use of commas was completely wrong, with commas in the wrong places, too many commas, commas at the END of sentences, and many more. There was a lot of repetition of words, or missing words, and lots of typos and misuse of words. One example I can think of is 'flap cap' instead of 'flat cap'. This may just be me being pedantic, but these things matter to me; if there are parts of the writing that grate on me, I am less likely to enjoy the book as a whole.

If however you are less pedantic than me and can oversee these niggly little issues, this is the perfect romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers, Harper Impulse, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely wonderful book! The cover is just full of colour and it just jumps out at you straight away! I have read books by this author before and have enjoyed them, so I just knew I was going to love this one!

Nell Andrews lives on a canal boat. She was widowed two years before when her husband Ollie died in a tragic accident. She is struggling to stay afloat (emotionally, not literally!) when one day, handsome Guy Cornish brings his Irish charms into her life. Vowing never to love anyone other than Ollie, Nell finds herself falling head over heels for Guy. Nell, whilst working at her best friend Bea’s deli on the banks of the canal, discovers the local old cinema is up for sale. Realising it was their dream to put something back into the community, she decides to use the life insurance she received from Ollie’s death to buy the cinema and restore it back to its former glory and she asks Guy to help her. Guy obviously has a secret though….but what is he hiding?

This was such a lovely story. I’ve honestly laughed and cried my way through it. It has been written so perfectly, matching each scenario with the right emotion. There are so many parts which have sent the tears flowing, and then just as many to dry them up and get me laughing! I love Nell’s character. She goes through so much, but keeps picking herself up and dusting herself down. I love the relationship she has with Bea, her best friend, and the deli that Bea owns and runs sounds delightful!

The setting is also wonderful. I have been many times to the canals around Brindley Place in Birmingham, where there are canal boats moored up and little pubs and restaurants. Bea’s Deli is just what is needed there (take note Brindley Place!). All the way through the book I’ve imagined that this is where the book is set (even though it isn’t) and it’s helped set my imagination off to perfectly fit in with this story.

I’ve loved this book from start to finish. The story flows so well and I haven’t wanted to put it down! The twists in the story are great too, but I won’t say what they are because that would just spoil it! If you want a book that gives you love, laughter and tears all set on the banks of the canal then this is the book for you. The perfect read, not just this summer but for all year round!

Five Big Fat Watery Stars!

An enjoyable, feel good and cute delightful read, full of romance, friendship, family secrets and lots of yummy food.

Nell Andrews lives on a longboat called the "Nollie" that's moored in the lovely Little Rock Marina, with small boutiques, coffee shops and the Waterfront Pub all adorning the jetty. The Nollie is named after herself and her late husband Ollie, who died in an accident two years ago. She works in The Melting Pot, her best friends - Bea's - delicatessen and has been trying to mend her broken heart. Bea lives nearby in a cottage with her husband Nathan and Jacob, her five year old son. Her Mum Gilly lives a short way up the tow path in Bluebell Cottage where Nell grew up.

Nell's life takes a sudden change when she's almost knocked over by a dog, which belongs to the gorgeous Guy Cornish. Guy is over from Ireland to lend his brother, Ed, who owns the boatyard a hand. Nell and Guy start spending more time together when she sees the Old Picture House is up for auction. She decides to buy it so she can restore the old cinema back to a place the entire community can enjoy once again, with Guy advising her on restoration costs. Everyone is really pleased that Nell has a project she can immerse herself in and make her smile again. Only her mother seems really opposed to her buying the cinema, but she won't disclose the reason why.

Everything seems to be going along perfectly. That is until Nell discovers there's another reason why Guy is over from Ireland, and it's not just to help his brother while he recovers from an operation... Meanwhile a mystery new boat has turned up in the marina called "Much Ado About Nothing", that seems to be making Nell's mum act slightly out of character. Will Nell be able to find out why Gilly is acting strange, and be able to buy the Picture House and stop it falling into the hands of greedy housing developers. Or are her dreams going to be dashed once again?

This book gave me a real feeling of warmth, with just the right amount of coziness. There's a nice mix of characters that you can't help but warm to, and an entertaining plot with a number of sub plots that weave in and out different people's lives. The story mainly revolves around Nell, but also touches on the lives of her mother Ginny and best friend Bea who owns The Melting Pot delicatessen where Nell works. There's also a host of fabulous supporting characters from in and around the marina.

I loved the setting of the book being a marina that's home to long boats, it's slightly different to the usual village or coastal cottage. If you love books with lots of descriptions of food then this is the book for you. The Melting Pot is where a lot of the action takes place, meaning there's lots of yummy food mentioned - hot chocolate, savouries, speciality cheeses, flapjacks, homemade lemonade, bakes, hot potatoes, chocolate brownies, soup, sausage rolls, sandwiches, cream meringues, baguettes, pies, scones, pasties, danish pastries, deli bowls and scrumptious homemade cakes.

Everything is tied up nicely in the latter part of the book. Some people might find the predictability of this type of book a little too much, but this was just the kind of book I wanted to read so I loved how everything wound up at the end. If I wasn't in the mood for a feel good book, then I would have steered clear of a book like this, but I wanted predictability. So if you aren't looking for this right now, then keep this book on your shelf for a read at another time.

There was so much in this book to enjoy - romance, heartache, secrets, friendship, and lots of scrumptious food. Perfect if you're looking for a fun, feel good, chick lit, rom com kind of read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARK in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The Cosy Canal Boat Dream in my opinion has to be the most perfect book ever! I loved every single page of it.



As soon as I seen the cover for this book I knew it was definitely a book I would love, it is just so magical.



I was in absolute tears reading the prologue it was packed with emotion. Literally a page in and I could not put the book down I found myself really attached to Nell and her story.



Nell has had a tough time recently after a tragic accident and the only thing keeping her going is Nollie her canal boat. She has it really beautifully decorated inside and it is her pride and joy.



After she receives a letter in the post informing her she has received a lump sum of money Nell's dream project comes onto the market and gives her the opportunity of a lifetime and something she can really focus on. Everyone is delighted that Nell has something to be happy about and has finally put the smile back on her face, however Gilly Nell's mother puts a downer on it and seems really against the idea, we don't find out what her secret is till near the end of the book.



Another thing that catches Nell's eye is Mr Guy Cornish, a dreamy Irish Hunk. They both click from the minute they meet and its certain that something is bound to happen between them, and as a reader it makes you feel really happy knowing Nell is being able to move on and enjoy her life again after the heartbreak she has suffered previously. Guy seems like her knight in shining armor, but its clear he is hiding something.



I really enjoyed the pace of the book and the story is just so heart warming, you definitely need to have the tissues on stand by.



The Cosy Canal Boat Dream is definitely Christie Barlow's best yet!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me access to a pre publication copy of this book.

A lovely relaxing read. I decided to have a lazy day today and just as well as I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it. A gentle romance entwined into a family mystery and a tale of friendship and relationships. Perfect. I'm now going to track down more books by this author to read.

The Cosy Canal Boat Dream is an adorable cosy romance with a lovely setting that is best enjoyed with a lot of tea and some biscuits.