The setting is definitely what added to my enjoyment of this typical love story. Set on the Dorset coast, it provoked many memories of holidays taken there. If you are stuck indoors or want a bit of an escape, Galton certainly enables this.

The book is set near to the Bluebell Cliff Hotel; further research indicates that Galton has written a previous book that focuses on this hotel with the manager, Clare, taking centre stage. Whilst this is not the focal point, the hotel is part of the television pilot that Poppy is filming. In this case, it does not matter if you have not read the other novel because these appear to work as complete stand-alones. However, I can’t deny that my curiosity has been piqued and I will aim to look up Clare’s story, wanting to know more about the hotel!

As Poppy pulls together the different locations and potential dates for her step-sister, Alice, it is evident that Poppy has been spurned in the past. Unable to forget the hurt from a previous relationship, Poppy feels that she has a handle on her feelings, even though she cannot deny an attraction with a potential candidate for her dating show. Poppy feels most comfortable on her own, but this tale shows how Poppy goes on a similar journey as Alice on the dating show; she grows to realise that perhaps she is not as complete as she thought she was.

Whilst I liked the premise of the story, I do think Bluebell Cliff could have featured more prominently in the story. Galton only visits it a couple of times, favouring well-known locations on the Dorset coast. I think this was a shame because it would have been an opportunity for such glorious, vivid and colourful descriptions. On the other hand, I did like the actual shooting star that appears by the hotel one evening and think this adds a literal level to a title that felt more metaphorical than anything.

There are bright, colourful characters in this story and I really liked Poppy’s family, especially the descriptions of the regular curry evenings – it made my mouth water! Furthermore, the hotel chef, Mr B, was rather entertaining and I was surprised by the relationship he has with one of his waiters. This added unexpected developments to an otherwise obvious plot.

Alas, I could see exactly how the story was going to develop and I could predict this way too early on in the book. Yet, this did not really stop me from watching Poppy create her dating pilot and the sea, sunshine and sand of Dorset. I felt like I was on holiday with the filming crew and liked the gentle narrative that seemed as calm as the waves in the story.

There are no dark parts to the novel so it is definitely one that will leave you feeling happier and uplifted. However, personally I thought that this story was a little too similar to others of the same genre. I would have liked more surprises in the plot development or more focus on the bluebells to have this as a top read.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A thoroughly enjoyable light escapist read about family, friendship and making dreams come true. Set in Dorset we follow TV producer Poppy as she pursues her dream to make a reality TV dating series which also showcases some of Britain's most beautiful locations. The first episode is being filmed in Dorset, in and around the Bluebell Cliff Hotel, which has a mission "to help you make your dreams come true". Poppy has suffered heartbreak but is surrounded by a loving close-knit family and we follow them all on the various ups and downs of their journeys as they strive to fulfil their own hopes and dreams. A great set of characters, a beautiful setting and an engaging uplifting read.

Set on the beautiful Dorset coast, Shooting Stars over Bluebell Cliff focuses on the story of Poppy, a film producer who is also producing her very first pilot for a reality TV dating show called Date for a Day. Poppy manages to persuade her step-sister to be the lead female contestant who will then get to pick from seven potential love interests.

Poppy has become career orientated following her practically being left at the alter, something she wishes to never experience again. Luckily, she has an incredibly supportive family, and a wonderful group of friends who have been by her side and helped her navigate her way through such difficult circumstances. Poppy has a close friendship with her camera director Dave, but there is certainly a spark there between them.

As the show begins to take form, Poppy and Dave begin spending more time with one another, and it is during this time that they begin to develop feelings for one another- ones that are more than platonic. But with Poppy having so many reservations on opening her heart up to love once again, we are left wondering whether or not she will give their potential romance a chance..

This is one of those books that really brightens your mood and brings a smile to your face throughout. Poppy is one of those characters you feel a connection with from the start. She has a big heart, despite her past experiences, and the love she has for her family really shine through. Alongside a cast of intriguing, joyful characters, there are plenty of hilarious and emotional moments shared between the cast as the story progresses.

The storyline flows beautifully from beginning to end, with delightful characters, and a heartwarming friends-to-lovers romance, this book has everything you could possibly desire from a romantic-comedy. I adored this story, and truly look forward to future releases by Della Galton.

Set on the Dorset coast, this book focuses on Poppy, a film producer and a pilot for a reality TV dating show. This is topical contemporary fiction, and whilst I am not a fan of reality TV, going behind the scenes with Poppy and her film crew makes this absorbing reading.

Poppy is career orientated after being practically jilted at the altar. She has a supportive family who we discover lots about and good work friends, particularly Dave, her camera director. At the heart of this story is a lovely gentle friends-to-lovers romance that is heartwarming. There is also plenty of family drama which adds to the story and shows what a loving and loyal person Poppy is. The filming of the pilot of the Dating reality show is interesting full of humour and conflict, which adds authenticity to the story. The setting at Bluebell cliff brings cameos from some well-known characters and a wonderfully described setting.

This is a lovely, uplifting story, with family drama, glamour and romance.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Poppy is getting a chance at her dream and is developing a pilot for a reality show called Date for a Day. Her step-sister has agreed to be the female lead for the pilot and she will pick from 7 prospective dates. Poppy works with Dave and they are great friends, but could they be more?

I thought this book was good. I liked the reality show aspect of the story. It was fun reading about how they chose the contestants for the show. I also enjoyed the scenes with Poppy's family. They all had their own little stories going on that were interesting additions to the book that didn't take away from the overall story. Poppy and Dave were cute as a couple and although I didn't mind how the story ended, I wanted something a little bit more. Overall it was well written and enjoyable.

My sincere thanks to Boldwood Books and Della Galton as well as NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it.

A little while ago, I reviewed Della Galton’s Moonlight Over Studland Bay, and said then that I was thrilled to find an excellent romance novel that was set in my local area. Well now I’m thoroughly spoiled as Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff is another one!

This time, we’re focused on the Bluebell Cliff of the title – a hotel in Dorset where dreams come true – and the filming of a brand new reality dating show, Date for a Day. At the helm is local girl Poppy Allen who has been unlucky in love, but will making her own dating show lead to success for her in the dating stakes?

The concept of this book is really great, allowing a whistle-stop tour of the best parts of Dorset, while touching on a subject that (whether you like it or not!) is a huge part of our culture. Regardless of your views of dating shows, Poppy and the crew are a great cast of characters which leads to some really funny moments.

Poppy’s family also play a huge part in the book, being a close-knit blended family that have each others’ backs. They seemed like a really lovely lot and their trials and tribulations gave a sometimes quite emotional turn to the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Bluebell Cliff, as everything resolved to my satisfaction! What luck for me, then that I picked up Della Galton’s first book about the hotel – Sunshine Over Bluebell Cliff – to read next…

As I have family in Dorset, this one caught my eye. I now have places to explore when we visit.
I found this an easy to read romance to while away a chilly afternoon.
Yes, it was obvious, but then we all need a bit of drama free romance and I for one really enjoyed it.

I have been a fan of Della’s books for a little while now. I haven’t read everything that she has written to date but I am slowly getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff’ and it certainly sounded like the kind of read I needed at that particular point in time- a light hearted, feel good sort of story.
I adored the character of Poppy Allen and I warmed to her from the start. In fact I began to feel as though she had become a friend of mine. Poppy was due to get married but she didn’t in the end. I don’t want to say too much about what happens but needless to say that she feels betrayed on two fronts. Poppy is a lovely young lass, who is kind, caring, fun, sensitive and an all round good egg. Poppy is the sort of girl I could imagine would be a hoot on a night out and you could put the world to rights over a drink. I kept everything crossed that she found the ‘happy ever after’ ending that she so deserved. What happens? Well for the answers to those questions and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to fin out as I am not going to tell you.
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. In fact as soon as I got to the bottom of the first page, I knew that I was in for a treat and then some. Once I picked the book up, that was it. For the rest of the afternoon, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down for any length of time. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me, as I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I found ‘Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff’ to be an adorable and easy going read which held my attention throughout.
‘Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff’ is extremely well written. In Poppy Cooper, Della has created a delightful lead character. I love the way in which Della describes her characters in such a realistic and vivid way. Della’s characters are described so well that they seem just as real as you and I. For me, ‘Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff’ had a bit of everything- drama, romance, fun and light hearted moments. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that’s all thanks to Della’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Della’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

A really enjoyable read , that did take a few chapters to get into but after it really did pick up an became a fun sweet read. I loved the premise which is different from my normally reads and I also liked our characters. Recommend alot.

This is a delightful contemporary romance with a return visit to Studland Bay and the Bluebell Cliff Hotel as well as other well known sites on the Dorset coastline. This time the main character is Poppy Allen and she’s about to produce the pilot for a brand new Netflix series, ‘Date for a Day’. There will be seven contestants vying to succeed in a variety of challenges in the hopes of winning the opportunity to go on a ‘Date for a Day’ with the leading lady.

With all the drama of behind the scenes reality television filming, complete with pranks and jokes galore, this is a fun, lighthearted read with great characters and lots of love. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into it, couldn’t resist sharing some of the spider jokes with my husband, and giggled my way through some of the scenes. The author has a way of writing which helps you engage with the characters and easily visualise the events, helping readers empathise with the angst and dilemmas and celebrate with the successes. It is a lovely story which I have no hesitation in highly recommending – as the tagline says, it really is a “wonderfully fun, escapist read for summer 2021”.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This is my first book by this author, and what an absolutely delightful read it was! Poppy Allen is the producer working on a new reality TV show ‘Date for a Day’. She’s a great character who is very likeable and it’s obvious that her work, family and friends means everything to her. I loved her cameraman and close friend, Dave and the friendly banter between them was amusing and heart-warming throughout the story. I was drawn into the book as soon as I started it, not just because of these two main characters, but also because of the location. Based along the Jurassic coastline, it brought wonderful images of the beaches and coastlines as I read, especially as I knew so many of the places which were featured. It honestly made me feel as if I was right there with them as they visited Corfe Castle and Durdle Door!

The storyline flowed along at a lovely pace, holding my attention easily. I was really interested in how a TV show was made and thought this added a different spin to a romantic read! I have to admit I did guess quite early where the storyline was going but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. It is a romantic read, and whilst Poppy is not looking for love herself, there are lots of possible love interests to tempt her…and me as well! All of the other characters within the book were great and there wasn’t one who I didn’t like or who didn’t add something to the storyline! I loved the auditions and the filming of the show and like Alice, the contestant, found it difficult to choose my favourite guy!

For that perfect piece of escapism then look no further than this book! It’s an easy-to-read romance with lots of emphasis on family and friends and it takes you on a light-hearted, fun and sometimes emotional journey throughout! I loved the characters; I loved the story and I loved the locations!! Would definitely recommend!!

This book really was an absolute delight in every way. By pure chance, I do seem to have read a few books recently focused around the putting together of a reality show – but this one approaches it from a rather different angle, with such a really interesting insider view from the perspective of the team putting the production together.

This is very much Poppy’s story, and I really liked her – and her loyal and supportive friend and cameraman Dave – from the outset, as we encounter them researching locations for the activities that will be part of the pilot for Date for a Day. She’s passionate about her work, and her dedication is clear – but work is also something of a refuge as, despite the support of her lovely family and her equally dedicated team, her personal life is rather more in turmoil after her former partner treated her so very badly.

She unexpectedly finds her heart beating a little faster when she encounters one of the show’s contestants – but her professionalism doesn’t waver, as the team strive to overcome the many ups and downs in filming the pilot, some accidental, some the result of a long running feud between two of the characters working at the Bluebell Cliff Hotel. And while her attention is all on the day job, she fails to notice the friend who’s always there to bail her out – and I have to say that a friends-to-lovers story, where you’re sometimes a few steps ahead of the characters themselves, is always something I particularly enjoy.

There was so much I loved about this book, not least the focus on family, and every single one of them was so well drawn. They all – the parents, two brothers, step sister Alice, their various partners at the time – come together for monthly curry nights, and they all have particularly interesting back stories that don’t distract at all from the main story but add real depth and interest. I especially liked Poppy’s mother’s storyline, as she struggles to come to terms with her recent retirement, with the reading she’s always enjoyed no longer filling the void – the running theme of incomprehensible text messages adds humour, but then so does the whole family’s lack of interest in the father’s ongoing big project. There’s such an immense warmth to all the relationships, and an authenticity to all their interactions that I particularly liked.

The humour throughout the book is perfectly judged – sometimes gentle, at times verging on the slapstick, with quite a few scenes that really made me laugh out loud. But the author also has an excellent and unerring touch with the emotional content – the central romance is particularly convincing, everything I wanted it to be, and I really felt for Poppy as the ins and outs of her back story were slowly revealed. The whole context of the making of the TV programme was particularly well done, with some really well-researched insights into the challenges and practicalities. And although this book is a standalone in every way, I did thoroughly enjoy encountering again some of the characters I’d loved from the previous books – especially the increasingly eccentric and overbearing chef Mr B – but you’ll have no problems at all if this is the first book you’ve read from the author. And yes, there are even some lovely scenes featuring three-legged dog Foxy – should you ever visit the hotel, just make sure you keep a firm hold on your bacon sandwich.

And I really must praise the book’s setting and wonderful sense of place – vividly described and playing a major part in the story, so much so that I’ve spent a few evenings researching places to stay when I pay my visit. The Bluebell Cliff Hotel is entirely of the author’s own invention, but now so familiar thanks to the detailed descriptions – and that’s combined with the stunning real life locations used as a backdrop (but so much more than that…) to some of the set pieces, like Durdle Door, Studland Beach and the Old Harry Rocks.

This book really did have everything I love – strong and well-drawn characters, plenty of humour and lightness, moments of drama and emotion, vividly drawn locations, that lovely focus on family and friendship, and a perfect slow-burn romance that really warmed the heart. Della Galton really is a quite superb storyteller, and I think this lovely book may just be her best yet – I know I’m looking forward to the next one already…

I really enjoyed reading this book, it is entertaining and lighthearted. This is part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone novel. Some of the characters in the previous books do pop up in this book.
Della Galton is very good at describing the area in Dorset in which this book is set. I am very familiar with some of the places that she writes about and she is very accurate in her detail. Unfortunately I haven't been able to visit some of these areas since we went into Lockdown. I was able to picture them perfectly and it is a very welcome escapism.
Poppy is a likeable character, the rest of the characters are interesting and varied. The storyline was predictable in places, but some parts kept me in suspense until the end.
This is a lovely and easygoing summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Thanks NetGalley, author Della Galton, and publisher for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
While this was my firs book by this author, it will not be my last!!
This book was a delightful, light hearted read! I was really drawn to the premise as well as the setting of the story, which led me to want to read it. The author did a wonderful job transporting the reader to Dorset and the coastline with her descriptive language.
The characters were really likeable and interesting. I found myself really invested in each character as well as their relationship outcome. There was a great sense of family woven throughout the book. I loved how much Poppy was not only supported by her family and how much of a unit they really were. The pacing and writing kept me completely engaged from start to finish. Some of the best scenes happened during the pranking war that took place during the filming of the dating reality TV show. Those pranks were clever and had me laughing-out-loud. The slow burn relationship between Poppy and David was so sweet and had me smiling by the end. One of my favorite troupes is friends-to-lovers and this author did a great job creating that solid friendship between them, which made their romantic relationship that much sweeter. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who love a wholesome, light heart romance. While this is part of a series, you can read this as a stand alone.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Della Galton paints a gorgeous picture of the town the story is set in.

Poppy's dream has always been to work in TV. She develops a reality TV show that Netflix has ordered a pilot of. She enlists the help of her step-sister to be the person looking for a date and her trusty list of contacts to make her dream come true. The story weaves through the work life and home life of Poppy. The author paints quite a picture of this family that is easy to "see" in your mind.

Other reviews mention this book is part of a series, I need to find the others!!

This was a sweet read but, unfortunately very predictable. It read like many books of this genre I’ve read before. Girl works hard with a guy, they are friends eventually they fall in love. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed this book and if I hadn’t read similar before I would have given this five stars. I enjoyed reading about Dorset as I know the area very well and have walked along the coastal paths to Durdle Door and Old Harry and the scenery is lovely. I’m sure I will read more of this authors books in the future. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Another of Della's books I've loved.

It is set on the most picturesque coastlines, it's not a place I've ever been before but I would love to go and was able to visualise everything in my head.

It's a light, heartwarming, funny read that really makes you smile. I really liked the characters and it was a book I could read quite quickly.

I love Della's style of writing and cant wait to read another of her books.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters in Shooting Stars Over Bluebell Cliff. The relationships between the family members felt genuine and the setup of how they became a family worked well. I wasn't sure what I was going to think of creating a dating show pilot as the backdrop because I don't watch those shows. It worked because we only caught the highlights of the making of the show in a behind-the-scenes kind of way. The action focused on the main characters along with their misunderstandings. I also liked how the miscommunications were subtle and realistic. It was easy to buy into the plot and romance. I kept wondering how bad the "bad boy" was going to be, but I'm not going to spill the beans here so you'll have to make your own judgment. There were smile-worthy and laugh-worthy moments throughout the book. I would recommend this if you're ready for a rom-com. Intimate scenes are kept behind closed doors and left to the imagination for anyone interested in a clean romance. One of my favorite parts was the pure Britishness of the characters, situations, and how they talked to one another.

I've given this 5 stars because it was charming with readable characters. I would recommend it!

When I was invited to review this book, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands! I have loved the other instalments in this series and was eager to discover ‘what happens next’.
Poppy is a lovely addition to Bluebell Cliff; she’s driven in her work and guarded in her private life. Poppy’s colleague, Dave is incredibly organised and loyal. Between them, they have the ability to make ‘Date for a Day’ a smash hit.
In this book, we revisit the eccentric, conspiracy theorist chef, Mr B and his nemesis, Maître D’ Phil Grimshaw. It was fun to see their rivalry and obsession with ‘tit for tat’ pranks, but when it boils over and threatens the success of Poppy’s work, it’s no joke.
As I mentioned, this is the latest instalment in the Bluebell Cliff series, and Della Galton is still creating wonderful characters and storylines. I particularly loved the way Poppy handled revisiting her ex and the breakdown of their relationship. It wasn’t pleasant, but she was able to gain the closure that she needed.
This is a gorgeous book and I highly recommend it. It can be read as a standalone story, but there’s so much fun in exploring this series, you’ll not regret it.

This is just a delight to read! As the story is based around the main character, Poppy, creating a reality dating show I expected it to have a love story at it's heart. What I didn't expect was for the book to highlight the importance of love between friends and family as well. The relationship Poppy has with her family is wonderful and shines throughout. For anyone in search of romance, of course there is a romantic love story in there too! A gorgeous book that I was able to get lost in!