Cover Image: Secrets of Magpie Cove

Secrets of Magpie Cove

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Was this review helpful?

This is book 2 in the Magpie Cove series. It can be read as a stand alone but I think I missed a lot by not reading book 1, The House at Magpie cove. Lila works as a waitress in a the small Cornish village of Magpie Cove. When her friend, the owner of the diner dies unexpectedly it looks bleak. Her son has inherited and he's anxious to sell and return to the city. Nathan is nothing like his mother but he's willing to give Lila and the town a chance. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! I can certainly relate to Lila in quite a few ways. In fact, I'm sure most us can. I've been in her place.
I loved this setting and was transported to Magpie Cove and didn't want to come back. The community was fabulous! I loved "visiting".
This book is a part of a series which I didn't know and now will I'm going to go back and read the rest of it.
I will say that life doesn't stay the same and this book is perfect example of that. In way, I'm glad life doesn't stay the same. It would be boring.
I will also say that this book will make you drool.
This book was a joy to read and it can also be a perfect beach read!
I highly recommend!
4 stars!
My thanks for a copy of this book!
All opinions are my own. I was NOT required to write a positive review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a series that I will never tire of. Kennedy Kerr is a fabulous writer, bringing Magpie Cove to life with it's fabulous descriptions and brilliant characterisation. I would like to go and live in Magpie Cove right now and mix with the community. LOVED it!

Was this review helpful?

Secrets of Magpie Cove is the second book in the Magpie Cove series. I really liked the first book in the series... this one not so much. I might be in the minority here since a lot of readers have loved the book. I mean there really wasn't anything wrong with either the plot or the writing, I just didn't connect with the main characters Lila and Nathan introduced in this book like I did with Mara and Brian in book 1.  Also, Serafina the owner of the local cafe who becomes a friend/mother figure to both Mara and Lila and who is the Nathan's actual mother, dies at the very onset of this book. I really liked her character and had hopes of seeing more of her in future books so it was disappointing that her character's story arc came to a permanent end. In the end, it was an alright book to read but (atleast for me) paled in comparison to the first one.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Kennedy Kerr for the e-Arc of the book.

Was this review helpful?

TRIGGER WARNING: this book deals with miscarriage
Lila is mourning the loss of her close friend and employer Serafina. She is hoping that Serafina's son Nathan will re-open the cafe so that she doesn't have to worry about money while she completes her patisserie course. They begin a tense friendship but Lila is fearful of it developing into anything more as she is also mourning the loss of a baby...
Secrets of Magpie Cove is the second book by Kennedy Kerr set in the seaside town of Magpie Cove (I have previously reviewed The House at Magpie Cove).
Lila has had a lot of sadness in her life and is used to dealing with issues alone. Her parents died when she was young, her ex was selfish and she had a miscarriage without realising she'd become pregnant. She jumped at the chance of a second start in life, enrolling on a patisserie course and working at a cafe to fund her studies. Now her friend has died too and her job and course are at risk.
Nathan is a more complex character as we have less insight into his past and emotions. He appears to have a kind soul but his actions scream the opposite. Lila is torn in her opinion of him and therefore so are we readers.
The double grief of losing a friend and a baby are handled sensitively. However, I loved Lila's fellow student Oliver for adding humour and light relief which softened the overall tone of the book.
Secrets of Magpie Cove is a gentle and emotional novel which tackles a serious issue sensitively.

Was this review helpful?

A sweet summer read which was as light as a soufflé and as warm as the buttery biscuits fresh out from the over. You know, the kinds that melt in your mouth. Yumm…

The author Kennedy Kerr brought together two souls who were so different from each other yet the passage of the elderly kind-hearted Serafina brought them together as employer and employee.

Nathan was a strict business-man with a hidden vulnerable side to him. Lila was the righteous soft-hearted woman who had gone through great devastation.

Like the beach town they lived in, the two were like tides with a constant ebb and flow to their feelings. Other characters gave that town the great vibe, making me want to stay there.

There was an untold connection between the people which added to the vibes the author was setting up for. Something that could be greatly enjoyed over the lazy afternoon.

The story brought home a lot of emotions between the two of them. I loved Lila’s friend Oli who had such joie de vivre that I wanted to imbibe a few of them from him. Love and friendship, happiness and grief were perfectly enmeshed in this warm-hearted story.

Overall, you couldn’t go wrong if you picked up this book between your intense thrillers or fantasy tomes.

Was this review helpful?

Lila is a pastry chef and working in London when everything goes south. Instead of dealing with the fallout directly, she’s decided to seek new opportunities elsewhere. This comes in the form of a small village bakery in Cornwall, run by the omnipresent and solid community member Serafina. Instantly Lila bonds with Serafina, making things all the more difficult when she passes, and Lila is left with another crossroad. She’s determined to carry on Serafina’s legacy, but that may not be possible when her son Nick arrives with his own plans for the bakery.

From the start, Nick is all business and little fun: he’s determined to direct and decide on his mother’s legacy without Lila’s input, and the two are frequently at odds. But there’s an attraction between them – if only things weren’t so complex.

Of course, there is plenty of drama – but most of it is fairly straightforward and there are few surprises. Secondary characters like Oliver, Lila’s best friend help to keep the plot light and allow us some warm fuzzies particularly after the no-nonsense Nick arrives. He’s a bit of a prickly sort to unravel, but there is some heart there – as is evidenced by the sparks with Lila, and both need to learn to trust themselves, the influence of Serafina’s spirit and their own hopes for the future.

A pleasant read that allows you to escape with yet another heroine who drops everything to start fresh – a common enough theme these days, that all seems to work out in an enjoyable and satisfying way.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aVN /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable story in a lovely setting. Lila is a good lead character with lots of other great side characters sharing her limelight and a good storyline. Perfect light summer read for the beach

Was this review helpful?

Lila runs away from London after suffering a miscarriage. Her relationship falls to pieces and her boyfriend wasn't really the right fit for her anyway, so she makes a fresh start in Cornwall, working in a cafe whilst studying as a pastry chef.

Whilst at college she meets Oliver, a confident, fun fella who can charm the birds from the trees. The two of them bond over the challenges of their course and they also cater some functions together. I loved the character of Oliver!! Every girl should have an Oli in their life :)

The owner of the cafe where Lila works passes away and her grumpy son Nathan comes to Cornwall to take over. Naturally enough, there are sparks of the wrong sort when Lila and Nathan meet each other but gradually they become friends and then there are sparks of the right sort. Is Lila ready for anything other than friendship though? I have to admit that even though Nathan thawed as the book went on, I didn't find him a very likeable character at all. Also, I know that miscarriage is a very traumatic thing to have happen, but Lila does belabour the point about it.

This is a nice, light read of a book. Not a lot of depth but I do like Cyd and Betty, and Oliver.

4 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely book about a small community in Cornwall and the lives of the people who live there. Lila is a girl with some tragedy in her life who moves here and has a big impact on Magpie Cove. Nathan comes along and tries to impinge on the life’s of the residents but soon realises who he is up against.

Was this review helpful?

This was a pleasant read that didn’t have many surprises or twists, just a good, solid story in a charming setting.
Right off the bat I enjoyed Lila’s choice of profession. I watch a lot of cooking shows, and I feel like this background actually gave me a lot of insight to her character.
I liked the set up. I am a sucker for quaint, small towns with a quirky cast of characters. Some of them in this book were more normal than others, but they were still entertaining.
Of course, things can’t stay idyllic forever. There has to be conflict. In this case, it comes in the form of grumpy (or is he?) city guy, the son of the deceased owner of the shop that Lila works in.
It sounds complicated, but it’s very straightforward.
Serafina, the deceased owner, was a pillar of the community and her café was central to town. Lila wants to carry on in Serafina’s memory. Her son, Nathan, has other ideas. Of course, this causes many arguments between the two.
However, it is also clear (mainly because Lila even mentions it) that there is an attraction between the two of them. Who will win out?
I thought the author did a good job of keeping things believable and not too heavy. Even the unconventional was not unusual and was just part of the fabric of the town.
Honestly, there’s not a lot to unpack – it’s truly just a pleasant story and a nice easy read.
If I had to be picky about anything, it’s that Lila was yet another heroine who suffered a personal loss and ran away from everything she knew ending up in a small town. It’s not really a complaint, only it seems like I’ve read an awful lot of books with this plot point in them lately.
Just an observation.
This is definitely a great way to spend an afternoon, with a visit to Magpie Cove.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was another lovely tale from Magpie Cove, and just as with the other book, The House at Magpie Cove, I could easily see it in my minds eye. I could picture myself walking the shore and visiting the little businesses that make up the town.

Lila leaves London and a failed relationship behind, she finds a new home in Magpie Cove where she can work part time at Serafina’s Cafe and take culinary classes to become a patisserie. Now that Lila’s much beloved boss, Serafina has died: she has to meetwith her son, Nathan who has inherited the Cafe. Nathan is not what she expected, he is a handsome city boy and he tries to run the cafe like it’s in London not the quaint countryside of Magpie Cove upsetting all of the locals.

As Nathan’s decisions impact all of Magpie Cove, Lila finds herself perhaps without a job and home, maybe it is time to move on but ia that what Serafina would want and why is she so drawn to Nathan.

The characters in this book were so enjoyable, they were unforgettable and had some of the best lines. The locals added so much life to this book and left me wanting to read more about Magpie Cove. I can’t wait to read what happens next in this quaint little village.

Was this review helpful?

This is a perfect summer read as it is charming and such a beautifully written novel! The author paints pictures with words and leaves the reader wanting more!

Was this review helpful?

Secrets of Magpie Cove by Kennedy Kerr is the story of Lila, who has escaped an unfulfilling life in London to follow her passion and attend culinary school to train as a patisserie. She traveled to the small town, Magpie Cove, to live and work, mainly because it was cheaper. She had a job in a cafe, well, had a job. The owner, Seraphina Lucido had died a month ago and she was waiting to hear the son's decision on how to go forward. In fact, she was supposed to meet him today, but he was late. He was so different from his mother who had been a true free spirit. The cafe was probably not raking it in, but she had enough. Now, Lila, would be faced with many decisions if Nathan, the son, decided to close the cafe. She was still working through the issues that lead her to leave London, and her funds were limited. There was still four months left in her course.

Life changes, and this is a story of those changes, for many of the people in the story. Lila was not Seraphina but she did have a heart and wanted to use it. Nathan developed a heart during the course of the story, much, although not all of it, due to Lila's nudging. There was a pair of 80-yeard-old Lesbians, which tears to one's eyes, not because they were Lesbians, but because they were 80 and old age was showing. This is a pretty simple slice-of-life story depicting the changes people make based on the people in their lives and circumstances, and becoming part of a community. It was a touching, simple story, that didn't require a lot on the part of the reader, except to become immersed. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Secrets of Magpie Cove by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #Secretsofmagpiecove

Was this review helpful?

Secrets of Magpie Cove is a very well written romance. Good plot and character dynamics. Romance readers will enjoy this book.

Was this review helpful?

I was so looking forward to this continuation story and retuning to Magpie Cove in Cornwall. Lila Bridges leaves London for pastry school in Magpie Cove. Lila also leaves a broken relationship behind, and is in much need of emotional and physical healing. The coastal town residents completely embraced Lila, welcoming her into the town family. Serafina owns the Café in town and not only gives Lila a job but also a place to live until she can get on her feet. But when Serafina suddenly passes away, Lila is completely lost and feels like she doesn’t know what to do next. When Nathan, Serafina’s estranged son arrives in Magpie Cove to take over the café, he causes such upheaval in the town, but Lila stands her ground with him and does everything she can to keep the peace. This lovely summer read will have you feeling like you want to move to Magpie Cove, it is such a wonderful place and the township will make you feel like family. This story has all the feels, it was a wonderful escape and a charming read.

I absolutely loved this series. The well developed characters made me feel like old friends, while plot twists and turns kept me completely engrossed in the book. Thank you Kennedy Kerr for such a wonderful story. I loved it!

Was this review helpful?

Cornwall is an escape from it all, and this is exactly what Lila does. She flees London, her failing relationship, dull job and is recovering from a miscarriage to start a new life in Magpie Cove. Magpie Cove is a quaint village where everyone knows each other and looks out for one another. They all take Lila under their wing and she returns the favour by helping the elderly residents and working in Serafina’s Cafe. Lila dreams of becoming a Patissier and with her college friend Oliver they work hard to achieve this.

When Serafina passes away, Lila’s safe and secure job at the cafe and her home comes under threat. Serafina’s son Nathan has differing ideas to what the normal has been for everyone. Lila needs this job to stay in Magpie Cove and will do anything to keep on the right side of Nathan.

A fantastic read that really touched me. As someone who has suffered many miscarriages, it’s really great to see this topic approached and spoken about. It’s not done enough in modern-day reads. How the author wrote about Lila’s feelings how she manages this is spot on.

It’s the perfect summer book to take you away to blissful Cornwall, you get lots of fun friendships, hidden secrets, romance and cake!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

Overall a perfect beach read with a great gang of characters!! Pick this up and kept swept away at Magpie Cove.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of as well as fans of Nicholas Sparks and any lovers of a book that you can float away with at the beach!!! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This story is going to take you to a cute beach house with a second chance of love. A feeling of belonging and an intriguing story with atmosphere and a feel of security, however I didn’t fully connect to the characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?