A lovely little read really enjoyed this one have read plenty by this Author so knew what to expect and she didn’t disappoint!!

Jodie Jackson is an emotional wreck when she takes refuge on her brother's newly restored houseboat on the Isle of Wight. Here she eventually finds new friends and gradually comes out of her shell.
Marilyn is the wonderful, blowsy, larger-than-life cleaner who initially irritates Jodie but ends up becoming a good friend.
Although some of the plot is a bit transparent this is still a great holiday read and should encourage more visitors to the Isle of Wight.

A nice story, though didn’t enjoy this as much as Carole’s previous book which I adored.

Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

I do enjoy a novel by Carole Matthews. And although the last one I read of hers made me cry I decided to give the author another go and hope I chose one with a happier storyline! I'm so soppy, I can't do emotional storylines. The cover is slightly different from Carole's other novels, this one is more simplistic and sophisticated. It's really pretty and I really like the choice of colours.

Straight away I bonded with Jodie, even though she's nearly 15 years older than me you can see that she had been through a lot of heartache, although what kind of heartache isn't obvious at first. She seems kindhearted and even though a bit moany at poor old Marilyn, she seemed like a good person who had just been through a lot. I quite liked Ned at first too, although what Ida said made me take a step back from him he seemed a positive man who is quite passionate about quite a lot of things. Marilyn was by far my favourite. She's so bubbly and lovely even though she had been through some awful times in her life.

As well as the lovely characters, the location of this novel sounded so beautiful and I now long to get a houseboat!! Especially one as pretty and elegant as Bill's. There are parts of this story that did make me well up a bit. I really felt for what Jodie, as well as Marilyn, had gone through and it made me feel really emotional! However, most of the story is happy and lighthearted. I wasn't entirely sure on Ida throughout the story but one character I disliked and thought was very shady was Della. I had an inkling as to what she was up to half way through the book and I hoped that what I thought was happening wasn't actually true. But alas, I was right!

I absolutely adored this book; the characters, the storyline and the setting were all amazing and I was so sad when I finished it. I hope one day we can return and read some more about Jodie and Ned and the rest of the Isle of Wight gang. I would definitely say that this is my favourite book of 2020 so far. It just made me feel all sorts of emotions and I loved every page. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Jodie runs away from London to stay at her brother's holiday houseboat after a breakup with her husband. She meets Marilyn, who her brother has employed to look after the boat and to take care of Jodie, and her new next door neighbour Ned, a chainsaw sculptor. Add George, a street statue who can't stay still, and Ida, the owner of a cafe and a long time friend of Ned.
The reasons for Jodie's need to run away are gradually revealed as the story develops along with Jodie's fledgling relationship with Ned.
I do love stories set in small communities, with the charming background of the Isle of Wight this kept me engrossed with its surprising revelations. Recommended for a summer read, or at least to get you into the mood for summer.

What an enjoyable read this was, set on the Isle of Wight, really made me want to visit. After heartbreak and loss, Jodie thinks that life will never contain happiness for her ever again. Baby steps, day by day, a smile, a laugh, life changes eventually.

I have been a fan of Carole Matthews for a while and look forward to each of her books. This one was very appealing as I live in Southampton, so I book set on the Isle of Wight was very close to my heart as I have visited there quite frequently. I was not disappointed with the book, I was able to visualise her crossing of the Solent and the journeys around the island very nicely. It was nice to be set on the quiet part of the island away from the hussle and bussle of the tourist hotspots, the story fell open nicely and the characters were easy to like and you were soon cocooned in the story cheering on Jo and smiling at Marilyn, perfect book to read on the beach this summer - 2M apart!

As always a great book from Carole. Great characters and setting. A book with humour,sensitivity and reality.

This is the story of Jodie who is broken by her loss & the presumed betrayal of her husband. She runs away from her hectic life in London to the Isle of Wight and her brother Bill's beautifully restored houseboat.
The people she meets in Cockleshell Bay take her under their wings & gradually Jodie begins to heal. These people include Marilyn who cleans for Bill. Larger & much brighter than life she mothers Jodie & tries to feed her up. Ida who runs a beach cafe is prickly but warms to Jodie. George barely earns a living as a live statue but dreams of being an author and Ned, who does yoga on the beach and uses a chainsaw to create his sculptures, all become mire important to her than Jodie could have imagined.
But Jodie`s London life hasn't finished with her & she needs to decide where her heart really lies.

Sunny Days and Sea Breezes by Carole Matthews a five-star read that will whisk you away. I adore this author and always find her writing feels like I am picking up with an old friend and they are telling me the most amazing story, there’s just the most lovely feeling reading all of her stories. This one had me harking back to my childhood which was the last time I was on the Isle of Wight or on a houseboat and it made me smile extra big, bringing back memories long forgotten about people who are not here but will never be forgotten. Jodie was such a believable character, you could really fell for her, I really liked how we didn’t get her whole story right at the beginning but ad it revealed through the story that just made it easier to relate to and more encompassing. This has some amazing secondary characters who will just make you smile so big, even when you may be smiling in frustration at them. If you are looking for a great summer get away then you cant go wrong with this.

When Jodie escapes to the Isle Of Wight to her brother Bill's holiday houseboat, she meets neighbour and chainsaw carver Ned, bristly Ida who secretly loves Ned, fake statue George and vibrant, nosy Marilyn.



Wanting to wallow in depression and grief at first, due to a huge loss she's getting away for afresh refreshing start from to allow herself to heal, she's left her estranged husband behind in London along with best friend Della.



We soon learn about Chris her husband and Megan and Beth, not all was as it seems in her situation and why she escaped London life at first but let me assure you the conclusion to the book doesn't disappoint and I rooted for Jodie to be true to what her heart wants a sunny escape from life in a book!



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Another lovely Carole Matthews book that makes you think of British summer holidays in lovely places. Great characters, the reality of finding out you are in the wrong relationship and being brave enough to realise it, accept it and move on. Well worth adding to the read pile. Thank you for letting me review this book.

This book is amazing pure and simple. The Isle of Wight has never ever hit my radar as a must visit but after reading this I want to move there and live in a houseboat like Jodie. The characters are amazing and the plot is poignant with just the right measure of the heart warming and heart wrenching. A magical must read.

Amazing storyline, had me captured from first chapter! Absolutely loved it and made me want to go on holiday! Love Carole Matthews books from day 1!

I'm a huge fan of Carole Matthews, I've been reading her books for years now, and I am always excited to hear that she has a new book coming out. I was delighted to receive an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher in return for an honest review.
The main character of this book is Jodie, the book begins with her catching a ferry to the Isle of Wight. I don't remember reading a lot of books with the Isle of Wight as the location, so it is a nice change.
It is obvious that she is running away from something, but we don't find out what it is until later in the book.
There is an eclectic mix of characters, and most of them are likeable, apart from a couple of them. The storyline is reasonably predictable, but it is still a lovely heartwarming read. A much needed escapism on a grey and gloomy day in Lockdown, that definitely brightened up my day.
I really enjoyed reading this gorgeous and uplifting book. I'm now eagerly awaiting news of Carole Matthews next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Love all of Carole Mathew's books and this is no exception. Jodie is going to the Isle of Wight to get away from everything. Her brother has a houseboat there and she's going to stay there. Marilyn who is a cleaner is brash and loud. Jodie meets Ned from the boat next door and he sculpts using a chainsaw and wood. There's also Ida who runs the cafe and George who is a living statue.

What a fantastic book, a feel good romance story with a bit of humour along the way, set in a great location isle of Wight.
This is the first book I have read by Carole but it won't be the last.

Another wonderful read from a favourite author Carole Matthews. Jodie is escaping across the Solent after problems in her marriage and going to stay at her brothers houseboat to give her time to think and re-evaluate her future. As the book unfolds we are introduced to some brilliant characters and there is a warmth in this book that you can’t help enjoying, it’s easy to read, funny and romantic. The way Jodie changes her mindset and embraces her new life as the book unfolds is heartwarming. This is Carole Matthews at her best, writing about interesting places and characters with a solid storyline and a happy ending. Fabulous from start to finish.

Carole Matthews has written thirty-two books yet she still has something new to offer her readers. I’m sure I say this everytime Carole has a new book out but I think this is her best yet!
I loved everything about this book from the characters, to the setting, to the delightful cover. Jodie heads to her brother’s house boat on the Isle of Wight, she desperately needs to escape her life in London, including her husband Chris. Feeling as though she can’t face anyone, she is hoping for quiet and solitude and the island seems the perfect choice. Life has other ideas though; Marilyn bursts onto the boat, resplendent in bright leggings and jangly jewellery and then her new neighbour, Ned, strikes up his chainsaw to begin a new wooden sculpture. At first, Jodie wants to hide from these two but gradually she allows them in and surprisingly they become integral to her future.
I will happily hold my hands up and admit to having a huge crush on Ned, don’t you love it when that happens in a book! He is kind, caring and very easy on the eye. I really enjoyed this romantic aspect of the story; he goes out of his way to look after Jodie and this is before he has any romantic intentions.
Jodie develops greatly as a character and she is so different by the end of the book. She has suffered a great tragedy but it becomes apparent that she may have been settling in life long before then. She slowly opens herself up to actually enjoying her life, from wearing bright clothes to yoga sessions on the beach.
Marilyn is a real breath of fresh air in the story; she is the mother figure that Jodie needs, someone to care for her with no hidden agenda. She brings a lot of humour to the story and I loved how she brought Jodie out of her shell.
Sunny Days and Sea Breezes is such a lovely read and I know it will delight many readers.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into crime/thriller books and even psychological thrillers too so I am extremely pleased and grateful to them for opening up my mind to something totally different.

I enjoyed this very much. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟