I thought the title/cover was a little misleading, suggesting that it would be focused on arts and crafts but was actually really about learning to ride a motorbike.
Nevertheless it was an enjoyable read about overcoming your fears and allowing yourself to be the person you are meant to be.

Enjoyable read that was a bit different. I do like my fluffy chick lit but this was a bit more as it involved the main character learning to ride a motorcycle and all the changes that it brought to her life. Nice debut read.

When Lucy wins a beautiful purple motorbike in a raffle she is determined to learn how to ride it, even if her husband Gerry is very scathing about it and tries to make her sell it! Her lessons don't get off to a great start though and she feels that her instructor Ash would agree with her husband! As Lucy perseveres she makes new friends and always at the centre is her cafe, The Art Cafe, and what a combination of art, cakes and motorbikes. How will her newfound confidence help her, will she finally see how her husband treats her and stands up to him...... and what about Ash and his lovely daughter Daisy

Another lovely book about the Art Cafe with great characters, I loved Ash and Daisy and really hoped they would sort things out and the ex sister in law would be shown in her true colours! Perfect summer read

Top notch fun read. Lucy is an amazing character who I was rooting for - especially since her husband is such a nasty piece of work. Lucy's transformation is inspiring and I really enjoyed her story. I also loved Ash, who is such a lovely all round nice guy. If you want a book with good character development and story then I recommend this.

I was sent this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had previously read Meet Me At The Art Cafe and so was looking forward to reading this book. I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed this book and I would recommend to read Meet Me At The Art Cafe too as it is also a great read.

I really enjoy Sue McDonagh's writing style - an lovely read which is easy to get into. Great characterisation and a beautiful location in the Gower in Wales. I loved the purple motorbike in the story and was willing Lucy along in her endeavours to ride it. A fantastic story of art, motorbikes, cakes and romance. I have never ridden a motorbike, but this book made me want to have a go too.

I really hope there will be more in this great series of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy wins a motorbike in a raffle and proceeds to take her cbt. She has a rather lovely instructor who helps her through it. Along the way her husband talks to her like garbage and orders her around.

It was an okay read, but it didnt get my gears going.

I couldn't get into this one. The p!ot didn't go anywhere for me and the characters didn't make me interested in their lives
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc in exchange for an honest review

Another wonderful romance by Sue, I loved Lucy and Ash so much. This is a wonderful story full of humour and heart. I loved The angst, nothing like a good villainous ex, you can’t help but love to hate. A wonderful story and who can’t love adorable Daisy, I actually read the second in this series first, but it ruined nothing. Sue writes such lovely stories and characters. A great summer read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is a fun, easy romance with some really great elements: a seaside setting in Wales, a lovely artist, a hunky cop/motorcycle instructor, and a beautiful purple motorcycle. Lucy and Ash, the two main characters, are likeable, relatable, and realistic. The art cafe run by Lucy and her business partner Richard sounds like a place I'd frequent if it were nearby. I enjoyed reading about Lucy's trials with learning to ride her bike, troubles with her husband, and her personal and professional growth. I recommend this to anyone who likes a romance with some humor and a little adventure.

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Summer at the Art Cafe, Sue McDonagh

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance , Women's Fiction

Ah no....usual moan :-( Why, why do we have women's fiction as a category? Why assume men won't/don't read romance – they do, they write it and read it.
Anyway, other than that moan I loved this book. I find that Choc-Lit books almost always work well for me, fun and easy to read but not a dumbed down romance. Sometimes I want a simple romance, not a deep, dark, heavy one but I still want some solid characters, believable plots and choc-lit delivers that.
As an artist myself I loved reading about Lucy's artwork, and the lovely finds she brought into the cafe. The idea of cakes and art sounded wonderful, and the beach-side setting just perfect. Of course on a rainy November day its not so good but ;-) Its fiction, and in romance land its always sunny summer or crisp snowy winter, no grim and gloomy days allowed!
I loved Lucy, so talented, so kind and warmhearted but married to an absolute pratt of a man. It makes me wonder – and Lucy – how did things change, was he always like this and she blinded by love. Sometimes we're just too much in the thick of things to see the real truth and that's what seemed to happen to Lucy, it wasn't until it was thrown in her face she realised how cruel and awful Gerry had become. Still, I like a character I can hate on so all's good ;-) and of course when she masters all the things he belittles her for and makes a huge success of life without him, that's just so, so satisfying.
Speaking of people to hate, Sarah was perfect too, one face to Ash and a very different one to Lucy. I love manipulative characters like that, bring in a real challenge to the story, and of course she was determined not to let things work between Ash and Lucy.
There's some great humour in this story, a lovely plot encompassing not just romance, but growth, Ash growing to trust in love and Lucy learning to trust in herself and her talent, lots of new friends all round, Nic and Richard from the cafe, TV Tom, the Biker Girls, Ed and co from the bike shop, even the pupils Lucy first learned her CBT with.
I adored Daisy too, she made a fabulous character in the story, a wonderful young lady, and of course she ( and I) loved all the rescue animals. I've seen ex battery hens in jumpers too while their feathers grow in ;-) and Ash was so open hearted taking in all those animals.
What makes a romance perfect for me though isn't just the build up, but the crash down, the angst and its really well done here, lasts a while not just over in a couple of pages, and that's just what I need. Real life is like that, and when things go right again it feels so much more satisfying. Love, real love, needs that challenge to last IMO.

Stars: Five, a gorgeous read, perfect for holidays and beach, or when you just want an escape to a happy place for a few hours.
Arc via Netgalley and publishers

This was a lovely, summery feel-good read and I'm so pleased I requested it. I'd never read a novel by Sue McDonagh before but I was pleasantly surprised by her style of writing and how heartwarming this novel was. It was a perfect way to spend a few hours, loved the storyline and the characters. 10/10 would recommend.

4.5 stars.
Fun fact: When I was a teenager, I was completely obsessed with Harley Davidson motorbikes – despite having never even sat on one, let alone gone for a ride.
Actually, there must still be some Harley love inside me because when I saw a bike on the beautiful cover of Sue McDonagh’s book, Summer At The Art Cafe, I went straight for the blurb.
The words "purple motorbike" in the first sentence were enough for me to hit download. What a wonderful heartwarming story I got in return.
Sue’s love of bikes and art (have a look at her website, amazing!) shine through this tale, which is romantic, uplifting and features a good hit of female empowerment too.
Lucy is such a relatable heroine and I loved seeing her character come alive again – with thanks to learning to ride various size bikes (and Ash, of course).
The awful ex was a wonderfully written villain who got worse as the book went on until a dramatic – and very satisfying - culmination. No spoilers.
I also enjoyed seeing how things developed with Ash, especially with his little girl involved. I think it played out perfectly.
This was my first book by Sue but I immediately went and bought book two in the series, Meet Me At The Art Cafe, which is equally as good.
If you want books that leave you smiling at the end, Sue McDonagh is for you.

A heart-warming and feel good read. Thank you to @netgalley and Choc Lit and Ruby publishers for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review. This is a wonderful read, which I would definitely recommend. This book is filled with romance, art, cakes and motorbikes. I have really enjoyed reading this book. It is perfect for a lazy afternoon or holiday read.