I have read several books with a similar storyline, but this is so well written that I was totally involved with the characters and their lives. Whilst there was no doubt how things would end up, getting there was a real treat.

Anya thought she was living the perfect life – with her handsome husband, beautiful daughter and wonderful house and no lack of money. Only when her husband dies does Anya find out the truth – her perfect life was a house of cards, and build on lies and fraud. Anya has no choice but to move to Halfmoon Quay, where her family give her accommodation for her and her daughter. When she bumps into her old friend Rick, and he organises a job for her at his uncle’s hotel life seems to be finally looking up for Anya. But is Rick just being friendly or does he have an ulterior motive?

A lovely story, with believable characters, and all of whom became like friends, and who I missed when the book was finished. I am hoping for a sequel.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7396670129
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/just-beginning-by-sarah-bennett-i-have.html

This is a lovely, cosy - but not twee - story of Anya Stokes and her return to the pretty Cornish village of Halfmoon Quay. Anya’s life has been anything but cosy in recent times and her return to the village is necessitated by the behaviour of her ex-husband (very ex - he died leaving Anya to try and unpick
his financial scams) and although she’s very grateful for the help and support of her extended family and friends, she really doesn’t want to be reliant on anyone.

So when friendly and dependable Rick Penrose finds Anya a job with his great uncle, she’s grateful but initially a little hesitant.

She soon warms to Tony despite his gruff exterior and following yet another friend reminding her that Rick always had had a crush on her, she starts to consider opening her heart again… but then she realises Rick has been keeping a secret from her and she isn’t sure she can trust him, or stay in the Quay after all.

Despite knowing what Anya’s husband did and understanding her reaction, it does feel like an overeaction and is a little annoying but the story is so full of lovely characters and well drawn locations that that is a really minor complaint.

Passed a very pleasant few hours and although it isn’t challenging or especially thought provoking it’s well written and enjoyable and I definitely recommend.

Anya starts to rebuild her life after the death of her husband with the love and support of her family in a coastal Cornish village. She has to stay strong for her young daughter as she renews friendships and starts to make a new life for her little family. Rick has always liked Anya and wants to help her in every way. I enjoyed this story of second chances, overcoming adversity and community support. It introduces a cast of diverse characters and explores family, friendship, secrets and love. I invested in the characters and could visualise the coastal setting.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this book, and what a delightful book it is. After the death of her husband, Anya finds herself having to deal with far more than grief. Life for her and her young daughter is about to uprooted and changed forever. A lovely story of families pulling together and supporting each other. Definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett, book one in the Halfmoon Quay series is a wonderful, heartwarming, uplifting story of hope and love and second chance, set in the small Cornish village of Halfmoon Quay. Anya rebuilds her life after her husband's death reveals painful secrets, heartbreak and betrayal. With the help of her childhood friend and crush Rick Penrose, she begins to rebuild her life while navigating love, trust, and second chances.

This book is the perfect feel-good escape with well-developed characters, making them feel incredibly real. Their interactions are natural, even the side characters bring warmth and charm to the story, making Halfmoon Quay a place that truly comes to life. I love the warm, inviting vibe of the close-knit community, and the way the residents of Halfmoon Quay support and uplift each other; adding additional depth to the story. Their friendships, small-town charm, and sense of belonging make the setting feel like a place you’d want to visit, filled with friendships, small-town charm, and heartfelt connections. This cozy, uplifting read is perfect for anyone who loves stories about fresh starts and found family. I’ll be looking out for the next story taking place in Halfmoon Quay.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
#NetGalley #Boldwood #JusttheBeginning

Wanted to like this one but just found myself unable to enjoy it. The story was a bit too trite. Anya (friends call her Annie so why not just name the character Annie) was a stubbornly annoying character. She had the emotional age of a teenager. As such she seems to blame all of her life’s problems on others. Not great to read about. I get starting a new series but the map and way too many character descriptions in the front of the book is a bit much. If you have to explain all that you haven’t done a good job as a writer imparting these characters on your reader. I will say though way too many characters were introduced at once. Which made the story feel muddled.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Just The Beginning' by Sarah Bennett.

This book is the first book in Sarah's new 'Halfmoon Quay' series and what a gorgeous introduction it is!

Yet another absolute stunner from the extremely talented Sarah!!! Well done Sarah another an absolutely gorgeous and perfect read!! This is the ideal read where you could sit there and turn around and just imagine the beautiful Halfmoon Quay coming to life around you!

I absolutely loved Sarah's 'Juniper Meadows' series so I must admit that I was a bit dubious on how Sarah was going to manage another series that is better or even just as good as that one but there was absolutely no need to fret as Sarah does it yet again and manages to smash it out of the park!! What an absolutely gorgeous introduction to what promises to be another stunning new series by this extremely talented author and I cannot wait to continue my journey with the next book! I am extremely pleased to say that it is already available to preorder on Amazon. It is called 'Everything Changes But You' and will be published on the 7th October so I will be counting down the days! I absolutely LOVE, LOVE LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book which swept me away to the Cornish Coast at the turn of a page! Sarah's absolutely stunning evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the stunning storyline with the atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and characters coming to life all around them. In this beautiful introduction to this brand new series Sarah transports her readers to Halfmoon Quay on the Cornish Coast where we meet Anya Stokes and her 4 year old daughter Freya. Anya and Freya move back to Cornwall after her husband Drew died in a car accident and she discovered that not only has her life been a lie but he also left them at risk financially. Anya and Freya moves in with her Aunt, Uncle and Cousin Helen, Ryan and Chloe Penrose. The whole Penrose family welcome Anya and Freya with open arms and they all try to help them to build their new life's at Halfmoon Quay. Rick Penrose is a man that everybody at Halfmoon Quay knows including Anya and he also knows her, especially as Anya was his teenage crush. Rick steps in too help but at times he steps on toes when his over helpful personality backfires on him. Will Anya and Freya be able to build a new life at Halfmoon Quay? Will Anya ever learn to trust again? Well, grab your copy of this absolutely gorgeous page turner today and find out for yourselves. I can promise that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with romance, friendship, lies, heartache, love, family, drama, deceit, second chances, community and absolutely everything plus much more than you can ever ask for in a page turner what are you waiting for? The storyline itself completely swept me away. I absolutely adored the storyline and getting to know the lives of so many different people, seeing their relationships and friendships change and see how they react to secrets, heartache, changes, romance and everything else that goes on in this absolutely fantastic read!! Discovering Halfmoon Quay I already know that it is going to become a much loved holiday destination where I will look forward to meeting up with old friends and make new ones discovering more about them each and every time I pick up a book in this series. I had been to holiday in Cornwall in March last year where I fell in love with it and missed it before I read this book but OMG Sarah has made me want to jump in the car and go straight back now!!! Thankfully I am returning to St Ives again at the end of next month so I don't have long to wait to return even though after this book it really does feel like I have just this second returned after leaving there!!! Sarah's stunning evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the stunning storyline with the atmosphere and characters coming to life all around them.. I absolutely fell in love venturing into Halfmoon Quay and Sarah portrays life in a small town absolutely perfectly. I live in a small village myself and she really has captivated life in a small community absolutely spot on! I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality retuning to wet and dreary Wales. It was an absolutely compelling and addictive heart lifting read that kept me turning the pages until late at night. I loved discovering the pasts and histories of the characters and the community, especially the Penrose family, and I was absolutely swept away in the story line. The Quay came to life around me and I cannot wait to return in the next book in this absolutely stunning series. Sarah ensures the reader sees and hears everything going on as well as falling in love with the characters and the beautiful surroundings. I love the fact that Sarah has included a map of the Quay at the beginning of the book as well as a list of characters, their jobs and relationships with each other. I always find this so helpful in a book, especially when it comes to books in a series, so a MASSIVE thank you to Sarah for including one as they are always brilliantly useful to refer back to in any book. It was an absolutely compelling and addictive heart lifting read that kept me turning the pages until late at night. I loved discovering the pasts and histories of the characters and I was absolutely swept away in the story line. The characters and locations came to life around me in this perfect introduction to what promises top be an addictive new and stunning series that I have very quickly fallen in love with. It has everything you could ask for to lose yourself for several hours. I just could not put it down so make sure you clear your schedules!!!! This book and this series would make a beautiful movie!! This book is an absolutely gorgeous, stunning and addictive addition and finale in this absolutely stunning series!!

Do not turn a single page of this book until you have cleared your schedules and when you do get ready to go on a stunning holiday you will not want to leave!!

I very quickly became completely invested in the new characters, along with the storyline, who were all absolutely fantastic with their own individual personalities and quirks. They all started feeling like friends so quickly and I cannot wait to meet some of them along with new characters in the next book in this stunning series!! The next book is called 'Everything Changes But You' and will be published on the 7th October. When I cane to the end I felt like I was leaving amazing people and friends and feel sad about that! Each of the characters have rich personalities and they will all stay with me for a long time. I absolutely love the fact that Sarah starts the book with a list of all the characters which includes some information on them. This is a fantastic idea and I haven't seen it much and wish more authors would do it. It is very helpful to be able to go back to remind yourself who certain characters are especially when you pick up a book in a series so thank you for this thoughtful addition Sarah!!! This is one of those stunning books where I loved the majority of the characters so much I genuinely could write an essay on them but it would be better for you to meet them for yourself. The fact that Sarah clearly cares about her characters absolutely shines through the pages with the fact that they are so well developed, realistic and every character has a part. I just absolutely adored getting to meet them and I'm looking forward to meeting them all over again in the next books in this series. An absolutely fantastic, unique and memorable group of amazing characters that I wont forget anytime soon!!

Congratulations Sarah on another absolutely gorgeous success!!! I'm definitely looking forward to my next holiday to Halfmoon Quay in the next book in this stunningly promising new series!!! This is exactly why you are in my favourite author club and here is to your next success 🥂 !!!

Overall a perfect, stunning, page turning escapism, with a great gang of characters that will sweep you away to Halfmoon Quay from the very first page to the end by the extremely talented Sarah Bennett!!

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Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett is a heartwarming and uplifting read that perfectly balances romance, family dynamics, and self-discovery. The characters are relatable, and their emotional journeys feel authentic. I loved the charming small-town setting and the comforting sense of community woven throughout the story.

Hoping this is the start of a lovely new series. A lovely spring read full of related characters and a seaside setting. Thank you for the arc.

'Just the Beginning' is the first in a new series by Sarah Bennett. Recently bereaved, Anya and her young daughter move to Halfmoon Quay in Cornwall. Everything has gone to pay debts , even their home, so Anya and Freya move into the garden studio of her aunt and uncle whilst they get back on their feet. The rest of the family gather round to help, particularly Rick, who has never quite got over his teenage crush on Anya... With a picture-perfect setting and a large cast of characters, I suspect this will be the first in a new series. Great for fans of Bella Osborne and Alison Sherlock.

Just the Beginning is a compelling and poignant story of a new beginning for a young woman who has been betrayed.

Anya and her young daughter move back to the Cornish coast for a fresh start after her husband dies. He has left her at risk financially and she needs to rebuild their lives. She moves in with her aunt and uncle, and a young man she knew in high school reaches out to help her secure a job. She is desperate and everything is complicated. Will Anya find security and happiness?

Although the situations that lead to them are tragic, new beginnings are often inspirational tropes in which we cheer for the main character from the first page. Anya’s priorities include her young daughter, which raises the stakes in every decision she makes. Anya needs to learn to trust again and to secure her finances and housing. You will enjoy the well-developed and relatable characters.

A childhood friend who was also her secret admirer steps in to offer assistance. Some of his help backfires when he is too helpful. Can she maintain her newfound independence and trust him with her future? The intimate scenes in this slow-burn romance fade to black.

Poignant themes include starting over, found family, trust, communication, returning home, family drama, secrets, and supportive community.

Content Consideration: reference to suicide (in the past)

I recommend Just the Beginning for fans of the author as well as new beginnings tropes, complicated family drama, and childhood friends-to-lovers romance.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #JustTheBeginning upon my request. All opinions are my own.

I have read most of Sarah Bennetts books and find that they are all well written, have beautiful settings and realistic warm characters this book is no exception. I am so pleased this is a start to a new series as I really loved the Penrose family and can not wait to catch up with them again.
The story is mainly focused on Anya who has recently lost her husband, her home and realised that her whole married life has been a lie.
So, when her family offer her a bolt hole in their back garden for herself and her little girl on the beautiful Cornish coast she accepts. A fresh start is exactly what she needs.
When Rick offers her a job helping out at his uncles hotel it seems as if everything is slotting into place. With support from her family and friends , a new job, and the possibility of romance Anya is starting to feel positive but, as we all know life has a tendency to throw a few curve balls just when we least expect it!
I can not wait for the next book and to learn more about these new characters.

Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Everyone in Halfmoon Quay, the picture-perfect village clinging to the edge of the Cornish coast, knows Rick Penrose is the person to turn to for help.

Friendly and reliable, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous, he’ll do anything for anyone. When his teenage crush Anya moves back to the quay for a fresh start, he has the perfect solution. She needs a job and his great uncle needs help to run his hotel. It’s a win-win.

Following the death of her husband, Anya Stokes discovered everything about her life was a lie. Without her beautiful home and the luxuries she took for granted, Anya and her daughter, Freya, have no choice but to move in with her aunt and uncle in Halfmoon Quay.

As she begins to turn her life around, Anya realises the perfect man might have been right under her nose all the time. But there’s a fine line between helping and taking over and Rick doesn’t always know where it is. Then Anya discovers he’s been keeping things from her and it’s like the past is repeating itself…

My Opinion

Sarah Bennett has written a lovely story, it was such a treat to be able to read it. Following the death of her husband Anya is having to make a new start with her daughter Freya. Just the Beginning was an uplifting read. A beautiful story with a beautiful setting.

Rating 4/5

For the new series from one of my favourite authors we have moved to Cornwall and the coast. Halfmoon Quay is going to be a place we are going to know well.

Even better we are going to learn a lot about the residents as well. There is cast of characters to get to know through either their main stories or through sub plots, but for the first book we focus on Rick Penrose.

Rick helps anyone in the village and spends his time when not working, do anything and everything for the villagers to help their situations. It does mean he has little time for himself, especially his love life, that is until his teenage crush comes back to the village.

Anya is getting over the loss of her husband and what she finds out about one he has died. With her precious daughter and very little else she seeks solace with her aunt and uncle in Halfmoon Quay.

Starting from the bottom, Anya finds herself helping at the local hotel, which belongs to Rick's Great Uncle and all it seems to be going well, but there are still secrets and it seems this is going to get in the way of a lot of them being able to move along in life.

Will there be a happy ever after for them all, or will stubbornness and pride become before it all?

The only way to find out is to buy the book and take a trip to Halfmoon Quay as soon as you can. I cannot wait until I visit again.

After the loss of her husband, and having found that she’s not going to be able to sustain the comfortable lifestyle both she and young daughter Freya are used to, Anya is glad to find refuge with her aunt and uncle and among the community at Halfmoon Quay – even if it means living in a shed at the bottom of the garden (although, I have to say, it’s quite a comfortable shed!) and needing to find a job.

Rick remembers Anya from their teenage friendship – she never knew how he felt about her then, but he’s soon only too aware that his feelings really haven’t changed. But he’s most keen to do anything he can to help her with her fresh start – there’s rarely any problem he can’t find a solution for, even if that can make him mildly irritating at times however well-intentioned his actions. But his elderly great uncle really is struggling with everything he needs to do at the beachfront hotel he owns, Rick is getting increasingly worried about him, and Anya would be the most perfect assistant – well, so long as she can put up with his particularly gruff exterior, and is willing to do everything the way it’s always been done.

Anya’s hurt and vulnerable, determined to stand on her own feet but happy to resume friendships and relationships from happier times – including a growing friendship with Rick, however much he’d secretly rather like it to be rather more. But some of his actions – never more than trying to help, as he always does – give her real cause to doubt his intentions, make her wonder if she’s been wrong to trust him so much, and think that she might have been betrayed yet again.

Something I love about the author’s books is the way she creates communities that make you feel so much part of their everyday lives – very real individuals, just living their lives, that soon become friends you really care about. While this book would work just fine as a standalone, it’s also the most perfect start to a new series, with so many individuals I’m looking forward to getting to know rather better. The map at the book’s start helped me picture its lovely setting – but the whole book was a perfect introduction, and I soon felt entirely comfortable about being part of the community, finding out about the various relationships and family connections. And, just in case you get lost a little, there’s a really useful list of characters too. And every one of those relationships, romantic or otherwise, is beautifully drawn – with some lovely emotional touches, lots of love, plenty of smiles and laughter, but with a few tear-jerking moments too.

This was a story I thoroughly enjoyed, with a few “to be continued” threads as you’d expect from the first in a series – and I’ll certainly be looking forward to spending more time at Halfmoon Quay. And, do you know, I think there are many others who’ll really enjoy it there too…

Just The Beginning by Sarah Bennett is a new series that a lot of us have been waiting for with bated breath!! We start with the first book and take the atmosphere in, as she slides in each character. If you’ve been with Sarah since her first books, you know that this story will be the start of many stories to come from Half Moon Quay, they will all interlink, so I cannot wait to see what comes next!!
Anya, after a traumatic time of finding out after her husband’s death that he was a con man, who left her and their daughter deep in the lurch, has come back to Half Moon Quay. Her Aunt and Uncle have opened their hearts and home to the pair, so they can feel loved and supported as Anya gets back on her feet.
Rick, who’s always had a crush on Anya is delighted she’s come to stay in the village, and is right there ready to help her all he can!!
So with Anya’s crushed heart, and Rick’s full and rapidly beating one, what could possibly happen!!! LOTS!!!!
Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #TheBoldBookClub, #SarahBennett.

Just the Beginning is the first in a new series Halfmoon Quay by Sarah Bennett. Every book I have read by this author is a guarantee of getting a fantastic story.
The location of this book is perfect. The story focuses on Anya. The title of the book Just the Beginning leads the way for what the reader can look forward to with her returns to Halfmoon Quay.
The author has given readers the best community full of friends and future connections as the series will continue in the future books.
Thank you #NetGalley, #SarahBennett and Boldwood Books for the copy of #JusttheBeginning. This is my personal honest review.

Just the Beginning by Sarah Bennett is a heartwarming and delightful romance that captures the charm of small-town life and the beauty of second chances. Set in the picturesque seaside Halfmoon Quay, this is the first in a new series by the author and is the story of Anya, who, after a series of setbacks, returns to her childhood home to rebuild her life and her heart.
Bennett’s writing is warm and engaging, effortlessly pulling readers into the community and its vibrant characters. Anya is a relatable protagonist, dealing with life’s challenges with a mix of vulnerability and strength, making her journey feel authentic.
Being back in her childhood community means she’s surrounded with familiar friends and old faces, her connection with Rick is instant and it’s clear their chemistry will only lead to one thing. The romance is well-paced, full of sweet moments and undeniable chemistry but entirely believable and I was rooting for the pair of them from the start. The supporting cast of quirky, loveable townspeople adds so much to the book and I cannot wait to hear more about them as this series continues.
What I particularly enjoyed about Just the Beginning was its focus on family, friendships, and personal growth, alongside the romance. While the plot may be slightly predictable and follows a familiar but well-loved trope, Bennett’s skillful storytelling and emotional depth make it more than just a formulaic romance. The book delivers feel-good moments, along with some poignant reflections on loss, healing, and the importance of taking chances. I know picking up a book by Sarah Bennett will leave me feeling happy and full of heart.
Just the Beginning is a delightful, feel-good read that’s perfect for anyone looking for a comforting escape. Sarah Bennett once again proves she knows how to craft a sweet romance with heart, leaving readers smiling by the end. If you're a fan of small-town love stories with a strong sense of community, this book is definitely worth your time.

Anya lost everything after the death of her husband, she found out she was living a lie, she moves in with her aunt and uncle in Halfmoon quay.. sweet story about starting over.

If you are looking for an uplifting and heartwarming read then look no further. Just the Beginning made me smile throughout with wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting. Both of which I thought worked so well. The characters in this story were well rounded. There were a few to meet but their different personalities helped bring them to life and each one stood out.

Let’s talk about Anya and Rick. I thought this pairing was perfect. They were engaging and interesting characters. There was also a hopeful feel to their situation especially with Anya going through a tough time. So this made me feel for her character even more. Although I have to admit I did feel like I wanted to shake them a couple of times but I liked that this made them more realistic to me. They might have their flaws but they were still good people. The romance was sweet with little moments of bubbling chemistry. I think this aspect worked so well for these characters. It didn’t feel forced and I loved their connection even if it wasn’t all plain sailing.

In fact the whole community feel was well written and created a strong connection for me with the people who live there. I can’t wait to read more books in this series and find out what happens next to this group of people. I almost wish I could move to Halfmoon Quay myself. All that’s left to say is I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this hopeful, engaging and heartwarming read. I definitely recommend!