Member Reviews

Wish Upon a Cornish Moon is a lovely, mystical novel by Amanda James set in a small town on the Cornish coastline. This story is a mix of legendary old wives tales, a magical cove where it is told a special message in a bottle thrown to sea at midnight during a June full moon will bring your own true love if you believe and are worthy, and people effected by these tales. Two such sisters, Lamorna and Mowenna Williams, find this to be true as the story unravels linking generations together.

This multigenerational tale stretches almost a century between the time Grandma Mary shares this tale with 15 year old Lamorna before World War II begins and the current time when Mowenna recounts the stories to Merrit Pascoe, a disillusioned single mother.

Once again, Ms. James has spun a magical tale of the unexplainable and the good fortune that can accompany it. Her lovely prose paints such perfect descriptions that the reader is transported to the moonlit cove and can almost feel the magic. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

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I loved this beautiful story, full of magic and good things. A real feel good story, perfect for a summers day. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review..

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a refreshingly old fashioned romance with a touch of magic. Some delightful characters mainly set in the mystical county of Cornwall. Spanning several different timelines but mostly in the present day A story that is very easy to escape with and would make a wonderfully relaxing holiday read to immerse oneself in. I've read books by this author before and I think this is one of my favourites, of not my favourite. .

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Wish Upon a Cornish Moon was a magical story and meant even more to me as it's set in a place I grew up.

Merrin Pascoe is turning forty soon and is still licking her wounds after being unceremoniously dumped by her husband after seventeen years. To add insult to injury he's now shacked up with a much younger woman. Merrin's daughter Lucy is off to Uni soon and Merrin feels unfulfilled and lonely.

When her idea to run a community larder from the cafe where she works gets the go ahead, a chance meeting with Wenna, an elderly resident, is set to change everything. As they form a friendship, Wenna tells her about the magic that is in the air every June at full moon. This is the time that her and her sister both sent out a message in a bottle with a wish, and those wishes both came true. With nothing to lose, Merrin sends out her own wish, and the very next day she finds a message in a bottle. From a man called Ethan. Who lives across the ocean, but who was planning a trip to Cornwall to visit his family's birthplace.

They meet and things don't run smoothly.

But there's no doubt that wishes do come true. And that love conquers all.

This is such a beautifully romantic story with wonderful characters and a really uplifting message of hope.

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The magic of Cornwall, why is it that books written about Cornwall always brings us a wonderful story. This falls into three areas of time 1938. 1997 and the present day. Throw a bottle with a message into the sea, make a wish on the moon , then it is a game of wait and see if anyone picks it up and replies. What happens next, you will have to read and enjoy this lovely book. 5 stars and I recommend everyone reads this.

Thanks to Netgaslley and publisher for this ARC

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my first book by this author but no last. Very sweet and left me with a lot of smile. I enjoyed it a bunch. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

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Not many people believe in magic or love at first sight, but not many live at Chapel Porth Cove in Cornwall—an area of magic, mystery and wonderous things. Over the years there has been a young woman who wishes for something more and to find her one true love. It has happened over generations and whether you believe in magic or not, if you don't try, you will never know.

Merrin is a hard-working single mum, who helps out where she can and is not looking forward to her daughter leaving for university. When she meets Morwenna, she tells Merrin of how the cove is also known as magic cove and if a message is placed in a bottle and the words are spoken on a June night when the moon is full your true love will find it and you will meet.

Merrin has not had much luck with true love, she has in fact had her heart broken so is not looking for anything else in life. She is happy with her life, work and family.

The author has laid her story out over several timelines, these are easy to follow as are the different places where she sets her story, although the majority of it is in Cornwall. Mixing the past event with present situations is a great way of telling a tale as it gets pieced together gradually.

The story of Morwenna and her sister Lamorna is a sad one, but one that also makes sense when you realise what was going on in each of their lives at the time. A chance for a new exciting adventure with the man of your dreams is something that most girls want, but not everyone gets that chance, and some, they miss their chance.

Mixing the historical aspect of the story with a present-day one is a great way of drawing similarities between characters of many years of difference. It also makes for a tantalising read, I could see some things coming but not always in the way I expected them. The way the family dramas were worked in was great and it was a way of bringing different perspectives and experiences.

The romance side of the story is one that I adored, it was a mix of drama, adventure, daring and taking the chance when it appears. Set over different generations, it was a great way of showing how the magic of the cove and the message in the bottle could work in many different ways. Some things happen quickly, and some take a little more time, but things happen for a reason.

If you are a fan of romance, historical and contemporary fiction then this is one that you may well be interested in, there is a wonderful sense of warmth and hope throughout and with a message of taking a chance and doing what is right for you. I adored this one a huge amount and I would definitely recommend it, fabulous story.

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1938. One midnight in June, fifteen-year-old Lamorna Williams throws a message in a bottle into the Atlantic at Magic Cove, hoping to meet her one true love - and someone writes back.

1997. On the other side of the world, Lamorna tells her story to her sixteen-year-old great nephew Ethan inspiring home to do the same. But this time, his message isn't found for over twenty years.

Present day. Single mum, Merrin Pascoe, is told of the legend of Magic Cove. In a moment of madness, Merrin wishes on the moon, and next day she finds a bottle in the sea. Will the Cove cast its spell once again....

This story has a multi-timeline. We follow the lives of three people who have thrown bottles with messages inside them into the sea. There is an element of magic to this story, and I liked the authors writing style. This is a magical love story that spanned generations. The characters are well rounded, the story is set in Cornwall. Merrin was my favourite character. This is an enchanting mix of magic and romance.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #AmandaJames for my ARC of #WishUponACornishMoon in exchange for an honest review.

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Magic and fate are the theme of Wish Upon a Cornish Moon,
A duel timeline romance that will have you crying and laughing.
A enjoyable book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Love a book with a magical hint and this certainly had it. The book crosses the generations following love, messages in a bottle and the moon. Having found 2 messages in bottle's by the sea myself both having sad themes I was glad this story was about love. Well written and engaging till the end. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

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I was over the moon to be invited by the publisher to read a review Amanda James’s latest novel. It was a true delight to be whisked away to the beautiful Cornish landscape and the magic of the local legends.
This story follows a multi-timeline family saga, starting at the end of the 19th century with a young woman wishing for love on a full June moon as she casts a message in a bottle into the sea. This magical legend is passed through the family and we watch Lamorna in 1938 follow her beloved grandmother’s words of magic. Years later on the other side of the Atlantic, Lamorna shares this story with her young great nephew Ethan. Can his wish come true too? Then to the present and Merrin finds herself a single mum having been left by her husband. A chance encounter with an elderly woman sees her too asking the June moon for her chance of happiness and for it to send her true love. Can the Cornish magic really make dreams of love come true?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - the magic, the wishes, the highs and the lows that did bring a few tears to my eyes, but it left me with a great big smile and a belief that there is kindness and happiness and true love to be found. A super feel good read.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter Books, for an e-arc in exchange for a review.

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romance with a touch of magic A book that is well written, with great characters and captivating dual storylines.

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Loved this story and the sense of magic it provided. Not normally being a fan of anything written too far in the past, I am so glad I made an exception!

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This is a lovely story , one of magic bridging the generations and the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
The tale focuses on a few wonderful couples who believe in the power of the moon and the sea. A warm and touching book . I enjoyed reading it immensely.

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A beautiful story. This is set in Cornwall where Lamorna decides to follow the legend told to her by her Grandmother Mary and send a message in a bottle and what transpires when Harry finds it on the other side of the ocean is a magical story that spans over a hundred years. It is beautifully written and the past and the present are woven together perfectly with some great characters and a wonderful setting that will makes you connect with them. A great 5🌟read

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This was a compelling read. It really caught my imagination from beginning to end. Beautifully written and both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. I loved the description of Cornwall and the seaside. Who would have thought a letter in a bottle could travel so far and have such an impact of the lives of those who sent and found them. I really wonderful premis for a story and the characters were lovely.

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An enchanting story read over a sunny May bank holiday!

If you write a message in a bottle and follow the ritual on the full moon in June in Magic Cove your dreams will come true. It works for sisters Lamorna and Morwenna and they pass on the secret to the next generation. Both Ethan and Merrin - connected to the sisters - try the magic.

The story weaves through the generations bringing the Cornish girls their American and Irish husbands. Both suffer heartbreak and sadness but ultimately live fulfilled lives. They seek to pass this on to the next generation - single mum, Merrin and divorcee, Ethan.

A lovely story - uplifting and heartfelt.

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Another new author for me and I was not disappointed. What a lovely book, so enjoyed the duel time line and the characters were just lovely. All magical stuff that comes with the lovely county of Cornwall with the history and the excitement and romance of a message in a bottle. Very well written with beautiful characters and a wonderful ending. I can so recommend this book.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the early read

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Another magical book by Amanda James. She always has a bit of the mystical in her books and beautiful Cornwall settings.

Wish Upon a Cornish Moon takes place in different time periods, but has the same premise. Is there a soul mate for everyone out there? Cornwall is a magical place, full of legends and beauty. In Wish Upon a Cornish Moon several women from the same family wish for a true love by placing a note in a bottle and throwing in into the sea. Some find true love, some don’t, some have the courage of their belief, some don’t. The novel covers the end of the 19th century to the present and takes the reader through war and peace. We have Grandma Mary who was not brave enough to throw her bottle into the sea and regretted it. Lamorna and Harry who took a chance on love, Lamorna’s sister Wenna who keeps the legend alive and in the present Merris who has more on her mind than folk tales and love.

This was a wonderful book in a beautiful setting, A great book to escape into on a Spring day,.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Harper Collins, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

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Sending a message in a bottle into the sea, reciting a poem when the moon is just right may seem a strange way to try & find the love of your life, but that's exactly what this story is all about. Set over a couple of timelines, we dip to & fro to follow the lives & stories of people hoping & believing in the power of magical love.

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