My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Tess and Simon Sparrow are in their sixties and have recently gotten married. When they discover a hotel in Cornwall, despite the fact that it is falling apart at its seams, they both fall in love. They uproot their lives, sell their home and start over. This includes myriads of changes and repairs in their immediate future.

The renovation is rich with problems - but both Tess and Simon know that it will prove valuable beyond belief when it is completed. With very little plumbing, no heat, and room after room needing major repair, the two purchase a caravan as their temporary home.

Tess has children and grandchildren, and Simon has a son. Not only do they want to create a vacation destination, they want their new home to be a place to entertain their family, as well as dear friends. After much work, and more than a few mishaps, guests eventually begin to arrive.

I love how this story then shifted. There are two parts to The Golden Oldies Guesthouse. The first portion is about the purchase, repairs and their growth as a couple in this later stage in life. The second half of the book introduces the guests. Most are older like the Sparrows, and they are all rather unique and interesting.

I loved this book for so many reasons! For starters, it is always a delight to see people in love after the age of sixty. I also love the idea of completely starting over, and taking on unexpected challenges. Lastly, I can only imagine having a variety of guests to care for on a revolving basis. The surprises that Tess and Simon ran into did make me laugh more than once.

Although this is only my second book by Dee MacDonald, I was eager to grab it. I remember my first read by her, The Getaway Girls, which I truly enjoyed, so I wasn't surprised that this one would just as delightful. I look forward to reading more by her as time permits.

Many thanks to Bookouture for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you're a fan a Maeve Binchy, you'll definitely enjoy this cast of characters that meet via their stay at a newly converted Bed & Breakfast. I'd say the first half of the story focuses on Simon and Tess Sparrow. Just married and in their golden years they take a year renovating a costly home with amazing views of the ocean. In the second half, we are introduced to the elderly guests who come to stay at The Sparrow's Nest each with their secrets and reasons for staying in the remote countryside of Cornwall. Truly enjoyable!

My first book by this author but certainly won't be my last, an absolutely delightful read.
If you want a book to snuggle up with and totally enjoy then this is it, great characterisation and a well written engaging story. It doesn't tax the brain cells too much and sometimes that is just what you need.
Apparently this is part of a series but I didn't realise and don't feel you need to read the others to be totally enchanted with this one.

This book is part of a series but works well as a stand-alone book
This book has everything in it. Romance, humour, mystery and some unlikely friendships
An engaging fun and heartwarming read

Absolutely loved this sequel to the Silver Ladies of Penny Lane. What a joyful, funny, wonderful read. I really do love Dee's writing and can't wait for her cozy crime series.

​I love a Dee MacDonald book, they're always so much fun, with this one being no exception. This book catches up with Tess from Dee's last book (The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane) and her new husband, sometime actor Simon.

Whilst on a holiday Tess and Simon come across a house for sale in Cornwall, with great views and great potential. After a bit of a discussion they decide to sell their London house and buy the Cornwall house and open it as a B&B. Of course there is loads of work to be done on it to get it to the level they want, as the last owners started the work, decided it was too much, and it has been on the market for a few years now.

The first half of the book is about the renovations on the house and slowly getting to know everyone around them, and the second half is when the guests start arriving and their stories. A real bunch of completely different characters, all over 60, and a couple with some interesting stories they're hiding from the other guests! Orla, Tess's best friend and ex-business partner, also makes an appearance and finds unexpected love.

It was like an unexpected matchmaking service for the golden oldies for a few of the guests! Very enjoyable story, with a little bit of intrigue, set in a wonderful location. The house sounds absolutely perfect, I'd love to stay there. I really enjoy Dee's books, they're always interesting and great fun and I look forward to reading her next one.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. Ideal for a lighthearted book even though, I gather, it is part of a series, it certainly stands alone. Tess and Simon are Londoners who buy a house in badly need of renovation so they fall into all usual pitfalls being totally naive about country living, the erratic transport (hurray for supermarket delivery, being a country dweller, which these townies don't seem to have discovered) plus all the ups and downs of renovation even though they struck lucky with their tradesmen. The book really picks up when they decide to take in paying guests for financial reasons and the guests have deeper reasons for being there themselves. The guests are wonderful collection of characters at times with quite hilarious individual story lines, even if far fetched. Anyone who enjoys watching 'Escape to the Chateau' or a George Clarke renovation programme will identify with this, where money has to be made by taking in guests. It is also a welcome change to have a book with older characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

When you fall in love with a house you're hooked no matter what. This is what happens to Tess and Simon when they see a huge house for sale in Cornwall. The magnificent views of the sea from the house and the quietness surrounding it seals their fate.
They are ready for the next stage of their lives which is retirement but buying this house means running it as a B&B.

Lots of hard work and-renovations later the four bedrooms are ready for rental. Five people each wanting to escape from normal life or do something different or sort out problems descend on the house.
Tess and Simon have to get used to strangers being in their home as well as cater to their individual needs.
In the course of a few weeks people's lives will change, some for the good and some for....well wait and see.

What a lovely story and good to see strong older women being portrayed in a way that I didn't even give their ages a thought.
Tess and Simon are great characters and I loved the scene where Simon went to the pub when the doors wouldn't close in the house. Tess's reaction was so real. I would have felt and said exactly the same.

I didn't realize there is a book before this one with Tess's friend Orla in it ( she appeared in this one too). This didn't make any difference to reading this story as it can be read on it own merit. I will be downloading the first one to read more about Tess, Orla and Simon.

This will be posted on my blog on publication day.

Even though this is a follow on from one of the authors previous novels, the story reads easily as a standalone as we get to see Tess and Simon on a new adventure with lots of new characters.

I think I fell in love with the house that both Simon and Tess set their hearts on as soon as they see it. It did remind me slightly of the film, The Money Pit, as the house is in need of some restoration but again like the characters, I could see past the sorry state that it was currently in and the transformation that it was about to take.

There are plenty of humorous moments as Simon and Tess move down to Cornwall and start work on their project. Obviously being in a new area, there are lots of new characters that come in the form of workmen, business owners and last but not least, guests, when the house is nearly finished and been turned into a gorgeous guesthouse.

The guests are an intriguing bunch and a varied one at that. I so enjoyed getting to know them better and there are a few unexpected surprises in store. I’ve no idea if the author is going to carry on with another follow on from this one but I’m really hoping she does as, as well as catching up with the main characters, I can’t wait to see what the future guests are like!

The Golden Oldies Guesthouse has a little bit of everything in it. From romance, humour, unlikely friendships and a bit of mystery thrown in for good measure. Where as I used to worry about getting old, this author has me looking forward to it and that life is far from over when you reach a certain age. An engaging, fun and heart warming read.

The was a quick easy read, a proper page turner.

I loved the story of a couple opening a guesthouse after finding the house of their dreams on a holiday themselves.

The first four guest arrive with ulterior motives themselves and the plot follows their real reasons for staying at The Sparrow’s nest. And all is not what it seems.

The quiet one is always the dark horse..

Excellent read would definitely recommend. The perfect holiday read.

ess and Simon Sparrow may have a few more grey hairs and wrinkles than they used to, but that doesn’t stop them being swept up in a whirlwind romance and starting over again. Swapping their city lives for an escape to the countryside, they fall in love with a crumbling hotel and impulsively buy it as their forever home to grow old in together…

Renovating the glorious, wisteria-clad property on the gorgeous cliff-tops of Cornwall was meant to be a delightful retirement project. But the dream soon turns into reality and practical Tess and optimist Simon are faced with leaky bathrooms, creaky stairs and a roof that’s just about holding up.

Running out of money fast, the couple decides to rent out a few rooms to save their new home.

Along comes mysterious Celia, hapless romantic Benedict and tarnished, lovelorn actress Titania – all looking for a fresh start. Everyone in this eclectic group has their own reasons for being in Cornwall and across the summer they each go on a journey of self-discovery at The Golden Oldies Guesthouse as they realize there is still plenty of time for love, life, friendship… and a few unexpected surprises.


I enjoyed the read. I found it to be pretty humorous. I was guessing it was a part of a series and a stand-alone
book. I am 62 and my husband is 67, I don't feel that is the oldies. But, I went with it. Nice groups of characters some mayhem and touching moments.

Thanks, NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

Five golden stars for Dee McDonald’s latest love song to everyone who wants to learn how to fly and live forever. I recommend that your read this book “dreckly.”

What happens when two mature romantics fall in love with a spectacular view and the pile of a house that comes along it? Well, in addition to those great views of the Atlantic Ocean, we readers also get to view the inner-workings of the captivating characters who spend time at the “Sparrows Nest.”

Tess and Simon Sparrow are in their sixties and recently married. They stumble across a home on a cliff during a rainy week in Cornwall. With the energizing spirit of two new soulmates ready to seize every day and every dream, they buy the house and get to work. They envision welcoming holidaymakers to their comfortable bed and breakfast. They got so much more!

This charming book is divided into three sections. The first section focuses on the extensive remodeling process, with equal amounts of dust, tears and pandemonium. The second section introduces us to each visitor who checks in to the lovely Sparrow’s Nest- Dominic, Celia, Titania, and a married couple at the breaking point. They say they have come to relax and paint, or write, or work on their marriage, but just like the pounding Atlantic Ocean, there is so much more going on under the surface. We also get to meet Tess and Simon’s friends and family, and the quirky inhabitants of the local Cornwall village. The third section of the book brings it all together- the problems and the life changes.

Please don’t get the impression that this is an earnest self-help book. The Golden Oldies Guesthouse features humor with a deft touch, charm, fun, love and romance. Don’t we all dream of living larger, reaching for more, catching that falling star? We love golden oldies for a reason- they continue to resonate and make us happy. Thanks to Author Dee McDonald for letting us be guests at the Sparrow House, too. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.

Laugh out loud funny!! Such a light and charming book!! If you need a feel good, keeps your attention book then pick this one up!

This book is utterly charming! It has an old fashioned vibe which I adore! It’s gentle, humorous, heartwarming and packed full of characters that you will remember long after the book is finished. I adored every word and my only complaint is that the story ended!

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
First time reading this Author and thoroughly enjoyed this light hearted summer read will definitely be reading more of her books.

Absolutely loved everything about this book. It was charming and fun. I loved the characters and settings. Will be recommending.

Loved this book the characters the setting .A really special read one I didn’t want to end.I will be recommending this special read.#netgally #bookouture

I loved every word of this delightful book! I fell in love with the stody, the setting and the characters - what a fun place this be for a get-away!

Tess, Orla and Simon are back, YAYYYYY (although got to say this can easily be read as a stand alone)
We re join them as Tess and Simon are on holiday in Cornwall and discover a wonderful house with stunning views of the Atlantic
They cant afford it of course
They could never leave London of course
They couldn’t possibly renovate it of course
They do all 3!!! Tess reluctantly leaving life long friend Orla working in their oversized ladies dress shop and with her lorry driver lover!!
Then ensues a hilarious romp as they realise what they have taken on, meet the locals, ‘do up’ the house and decide to run a guest house....all this having to be done from ‘Windsor Castle’, a caravan they buy and put in their garden
Once the guesthouse is open as I expected there are larger than life characters who come to stay, all with a story and the hilarity continues as they all manage to get into various scrapes, some in the process falling in love!
Orla visits regularly and is ‘involved’ in the story at various times
Told as only Dee Macdonald can tell these stories of ‘older folk’ having another swipe at life and all that follows this book is funny, heartwarming, makes you feel good and like your favourite cake or sweet a comfort
As always with this author a joy to read
Cornwall is also described majestically as are the Cornish village folk
10/10. 5 Stars