This was a lovely book and showed the developing friendship of the main characters, it is quite descriptive and this at times did make me a little sad, but overall a good read with some interesting characters.

WINTER AT CLIFF’S END COTTAGE by SHEILA NORTON.

Cliffs’s End Cottage sits precariously, as the title would suggest, on the edge of a cliff top, in South Devon. It’s inhabitant; eccentric octogenarian, Stella, is a mysterious character who keeps herself somewhat aloof from the rest of the village.
Holly is a journalist, keen to find out about the elusive lady who lives in the house on the edge of the cliff.
As Stella lets Holly in on the story of her life, the two women begin to bond, and their time together is a life changer for them both.

Told in the present day and in a series of flashbacks to Stella’s younger life, this book is beautifully written.
It’s warm, charming, sometimes sad, but ultimately uplifting.
There are secrets along the way, some very cute cats and a bit of feel good romance for good measure.

A stunning read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With grateful thanks to #Netgalley and #LittleBrownBookUk for an ARC of #WinterAtCliff’sEndCottage by #SheilaNorton.

This is such a gorgeous and heartwarming read. I really enjoyed reading it.
Holly is a Single Mum who works part time as a Journalist. She is fascinated by a House which is perched on the edge of a cliff, due to Costal Erosion. With stories such as mysterious wailing, and a witch who lives there, she is desperate to write a story about it.
Stella, the reclusive owner reluctantly agrees to meet with Holly. As her story is slowly told, an unlikely friendship slowly develops between the two Women. I was very interested in reading about Stella's life as a child during World War 2.
The book alternates between Holly and Stella narrating their stories. It is well written and easy to follow. I liked both of the Characters and Alex was a great character too.
There are some very sad parts of the book, but it is ultimately a lovely cosy read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Really enjoyed this story - Stella and her back story and the developing romance between Holly and Alex. The author spent quite some time describing Stellas history which in places was quite sad. Loved the relationship between Holly and Stella. We had to wait till the end of the book for our happy ending - but it was tinged with sadness too. I am hoping that there might be a sequel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Piatkus for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
This book is beautiful story telling at its best and was at times also incredibly, deeply moving. It really gave me to think about my own relationships with older relatives and how something as simple as recounting lifelong memories can be so important and interesting to the listener, even if the experiences might seem quite mundane to the story teller themselves.
Whilst fiction is my favourite genre, I find it particularly interesting when actual factual, historical events are woven into a novel. So I was shocked and saddened to read about the dreadful events at Bethnal Green Tube Station, during the Second World War. I am pleased that due to one particular individual's efforts, there is now a permanent memorial to all those who sadly lost their lives in this tragic event and thank you Sheila Norton for sharing this particularly important bit of history.
Poignant but also uplifting, one of my favourite books of the year.

I really enjoyed this book . Love friendships like these they are seriously so wholesome , this book is perfect if you are looking for a fun lighthearted read!

This is a lovely warm-hearted book, telling the story of growing friendship between a young single mother/journalist, an octogenarian and her newly found grandson. All set in a delightful Devon coastal area. There are no surprises in the plot, but we don’t need any. The relationships are developed beautifully.

Sheila Norton is a new author for me. And the story is a little different to my usual fare. However, it sounded appealing, so I gave it a go.

I loved it! The plot is delightful, really gentle and enjoyable. I loved the flashbacks to Stella’s life, and although horrible things happened to her, it’s written in such a way that it didn’t feel traumatic to me.

I really liked Holly and Stella, and the way their friendship grew. I loved the way that they encouraged each other, and helped each other out. Alec was a great character too, and I really enjoyed the slow development of the relationship between him and Holly.

Altogether, this was such a lovely, gentle story, and yet compelling enough that it kept me reading until I’d finished. I’ll definitely be looking for more books by Sheila Norton.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I love stories about people from different generations making friends like it happens in this heartwarming novel. The plot spans several decades as the elderly lady Stella tells about her past starting from the time when she came to this place during WW II as a five-year-old evacuee from London. The author uses alternating points of view when she talks about the present. We can see the events through the eyes of either Stella or Holly and hear their thoughts as their friendship unfolds. There is romance as well of course and more than one happy endings. All in all it is a lovely story and I can recommend it to everyone.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

A local landmark, Cliff's End Cottage which sits on the South Devon coast. But the garden has already slowly began to erode and fall into the sea below. Still the elderly and maybe stubborn owner Stella, after everyone has told her that the place is unsafe, doesn’t want to leave.

Holly, a journalist whose finding it difficult to live on what she earns, and mother to a little girl, plans to have an interview with Stella and find out about her past life and her reasons for continuing to stay in the cottage.

Stella, doesn’t agree to Holly’s request at first, and sends her away. Later, she changes her mind, over a piece of cake and a cup of tea. Holly forms a friendship with Stella and her cats.

Stella, slowly begins to tell her how she came to live at Cliffs End, the life she’s lived and the sacrifices she made As Stella continues with her story, Holly realises that they have more in common.

Will Holly write her story for the magazine and convince Stella that she needs to leave the cottage before it’s too late?

I absolutely loved this book. I’ve read quite a few of Sheila Norton’s books and like the rest, this did not disappoint. The story follows journalist Holly who befriends the owner of Cliffs End cottage, Stella. As their friendship progresses with Stella reliving her memories of being an evacuee in WWII we see Holly ‘coming out of her shell’ and accepting friendship and help from Stella and her new found grandson Alec. This is a feel good story with dual POV. It made me laugh, it made me cry. If my gran (who supported my love of reading WWII SAGAS) was still here this would definitely be on my list to buy her.

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas read? I do all year round but seems extra special when it’s cold and miserable outside. Well done.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, Winter at Cliff's End Cottage, by Sheila Norton. I love this book. Stella and Holly are great characters at very different stages in life.

This book is simply a wonderful story of how Hollie a journalist wanting to write an article about the lady who lives in a bungalow called Cliff End begins a friendship that is needed by both herself and Stella. This bungalow due to it being build near to the sea has over the years begun to crumble into the sea due to erosion. The local council are concerned about the old lady who lives there, however she still has her marbles and tells them to shove off.
But one day Hollie knocks on the door and is let in, I won’t say welcomed yet by Stella the 84 year old owner. Over time a friendship and understanding of each other starts, where Stella is happy to tell her the history of the house, it’s occupants and in time her history as an evacuee from London. Hollie promises that she will not print any of Stella’s personal business but feels the need for herself to write and keep a copy of her memories for herself.
This story will have you reaching for the tissues, being shocked by how people were treated in the forties and fifties, angry but most of all the book brings you a warmth from their growing friendship, companionship and love for each other and a few more unexpected arrivals. Oh and I forgot her loving cats

As the title suggests Stella's cottage is at risk of falling into the sea as the cliffs are eroding but she refuses to leave as it is where she lived from marrying at 21 to the present and thinks her memories are tied to the cottage
Holly is a single mum and a journalist who hopes to write an article about the cottage but is told to go away. Undeterred Holly goes to see Stella again as she is worried about her being alone and cold and Stella reluctantly invites her in. A friendship slowly grows between the 2 of them and Stella starts to tell Holly her story
A lovely story of a friendship growing between the 2 women despite the differences in age

Fabulous read with great twists and turns and the background of a ww2 evacuee. Really enjoyed this feel good book it’s one for sitting wrapped in a blanket getting lost in the story.
Well written and look forward to more from this author
A*

This is the most adorable book I’ve read. EVER!

We meet Stella, the “crazy-cat-lady-potential-witch” and single mum, Holly.

Stella’s cottage is, as the title suggests, on the edge of a cliff and as the Winters get harsher, bringing stronger weather, it will soon crumble to the sea along with everything in it. Including Stella!
Holly is a part time journalist, part time cleaner, that’s just trying to provide a better life for herself & her little girl, Maisie.
Everyone has tried to get an interview with “the crazy lady” who won’t leave the doomed cottage, to no avail, but when Holly pitches a different angle to her editor, she might have what it takes to get that elusive interview.

What starts off a little rocky soon develops into a heartwarming friendship between 2 lonely women, from different generations as they find what they’ve both been missing from their lives in this unlikely bond.

There is so much life in this story. It’s bursting with joy, laughter, sadness, hard times, love, secrets, heartaches absolutely everything.
It’s moving, touching and a perfect read all year round, but especially at Christmas.

I love History especially WWII, and reading the little ‘flashbacks’ about life during and after the war was wonderful. And I’m even more grateful that I read it before Remembrance Day. I know others won’t get that chance, but for me, it’s seems very serendipitous.

I adore this book. From the stories within a story all the way to the lovable cats. And the humans too lol

I want to thank NetGalley & the publishers, as well as the author, Sheila Norton (for writing such a sweet story) for giving me an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely tale about friendship and acceptance both for the elderly inhabitant of the cottage and the young journalist who gets intrigued by the story of an ordinary woman with an interesting life.

Stella’s house is on the edge of a cliff; most of her land has already fallen into the sea but she is determined to stay in her cottage no matter what. Holly, a local journalist, wants to interview Stella about her life. With a friendship developing between these two very different women, they will discover that certain aspects of their lives are similar. And as time begins to run out for Cliff’s End Cottage, will Holly persuade Stella to move before everything she owns goes over the cliff?

A great story with a lovely cast of characters which was a delightful read.

A very compelling read. I was hooked from the very beginning always wondering what happens next. I loved the hooks at the end of some chapters making it unable to put down and having to read another chapter. Stella sounded like a lovely lady and it was a shame about her lovely cottage. I particularly loved, and smiled, at her "playing" her husband's violin - with the witch story. That brought a smile to my face, very clever. I loved how the friendship of Stella and Holly grew. It was beautiful. A really heartwarming story with some sadness along the way. I did love Stella's attitude to it all - something we could all learn from. The characters were all delightful and it was lovely getting to know them as the story unfolded. I must admit I wept at the end but was glad Stella was well looked after. A delightful read.