Anya is going through a really tough time. Drew, her husband, has passed and left behind so much debt and his shady business all came to light. Since his death is being ruled as a suicide, the isurance company will not shed a penny. The bank has also informed her that they will be repossessing the house. She is broke and has no where to go. She has refused her recently married mother's help and therefore she and her daughter Freya must relocate to Halfmoon Quay. There, the Penrose family will help her get off her feet and help her with her daughter Freya. Rick Penrose has been in love with Anya since they were teenagers and used to vacation together. Anya's return is stirring up a lot of old feelings and he is going to finally fight for Anya's love. However, a huge lie may throw Rick's plans off course when Anya finds out.

Sweet and delightful, Just The Beginning, is
a beautiful story about love, patience, trusting and learning to love again.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this sweet and lovable story.

Lovely book although at times, the plot did get slightly unbelievable in places. Perfect when you are not in a mood to read anything too serious

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author. I did not particularly enjoy the many many characters and the unbelievable plot.

Just the Beginning is the first book of the brand new Halfmoon Quay series by Sarah Bennett. I adore feel good reads with a beautiful setting so I jumped at the chance to be part of the book tour when the opportunity arose. I'd also never read anything by Sarah Bennett before and had been meaning to for a long time so what more excuse did I need to jump right into this lovely story?

I really felt for Anya within the first few pages; her whole life has been turned upside down, inside out, topsy turvy, everything she'd once believed turned on it's head. She leaves everything behind and into the warm embrace of her extended family who are more than happy to envelop both Anya and her daughter Freya in their time of need. Rick in particular is more than ready to help Anya in any way he can, although he risks coming across as overbearing at times. He just wants to help everybody with any problem they have, but that can unfortunately seem like he thinks people are incapable of dealing with things themselves.

I think everybody would love to be a part of the Penrose family, with Ron and Amy at the helm. The whole family are loving and supportive, with some brotherly teasing thrown into the mix too of course. Each of the four brothers have their own unique personality traits and quirks, and Great Uncle Davy was a delight! It took me a few chapters to get my head around who was who but the character list at the start of the book helped and it wasn't long before I was familiar with the whole community of Halfmoon Quay.

My favourite thing about this book was definitely the community feel, as it's not just the Penrose family who welcome Anya and Freya. Whilst living in such a close knit community can have it's drawbacks I feel that it was just what Anya and Freya needed to help them feel as if they belong, particularly little Freya who has lost everything she's ever known.

All in all this was a lovely story about second chances and family, set in a beautiful coastal village. I've heard book two will be coming soon so I'm looking forward to revisiting Halfmoon Quay.

A special thank you to Boldwood Books for the digital ARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the first book in a new series by Sarah Bennett, and the first book I have read by the author and I loved it! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

This is a wonderful start to a new series set in the picture-perfect village of Halfmoon Quay on the Cornish Coast. This is a heartwarming story of second chances, love and family relationships.

Anya, along with her daughter, Freya, returns to Halfmoon Quay to start over after the death of her husband and the discovery that everything about her life was a lie. Anya and Freya move in with her aunt and uncle and Anya slowly begins to turn her life around and with the help of gorgeous Rick Penrose, Anya’s childhood crush., she realizes the perfect man might have been right under her nose all the time. Rick is known in the village for helping anyone in need. But is he helping Anya or taking over?

The characters are so likable and I adored the Penrose family and the close-knit community of Halfmoon Quay. The perfect escapist read and I adored it!

The map and list of characters at the beginning of the story was an added bonus!

I loved this book! I just loved the story and all the characters!

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a heartwarming read.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

This was a really sweet romance. A fast easy read overall though the story itself was a little slow at times. One of the best parts was the family relationships outside of the main character relationships. I can see how this could unfold into many more stories. I think this also set this book apart from a lot of traditional romances.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Following the death of her husband and the world crashing down around her, Anya and her young daughter Freya move in with her Aunt and Uncle in Halfmoon Quay. Looking around for a job her friend Rick suggests that she helps his great uncle with running his hotel. The only problem is that Rick is keeping a secret from her that she can't forgive.
I always look forward to reading a new series from this author, she manages to give life to their settings, especially in a favourite part of the world, Cornwall. Anya is really struggling after losing her husband and previous life and has trust issues, Rick is always trying to help people, which isn't always appreciated. They are the main characters, there are a plethora of other family members which can be confusing at times but are there to set up for following books in the series. A very enjoyable read, especially as there is the promise of further books in the series to come 4.5* rounded up to 5 *.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

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

I thorough enjoyed this, the first book in a new series by Sarah Bennett.

Anya’s husband has passed away, she’s sad, but he’s left her
in a financial mess, and she realises that their life together was a lie.

Having the home she and her daughter live in, so she has to ask her family to help her.

Leaving the place she loved, she moves to Halfmoon Quay to stay with her Aunt and Uncle. The place has lots of memories for her childhood.

She meets Rick, who when they were young, had a crush on her, those feelings are still there even after all these years. But, he’s aware that right now, what Anya needs is a friend, so he wants to help her however he can.without revealing how he feels.

But that’s not all that Rick is hiding, and when the other secret is revealed, it could be bad news for all his family.

I loved the setting and the characters you want to know more about. I can’t wait to read what happens next in their lives.

I highly recommend this book.

A delightful story based round a close knit family with its trials and tribulations on work , life and love. Cosy up with the Penrose family as they try to support each other with mixed outcomes

Another lovely story from Sarah full of new beginnings, friendship, community and love, i look forward to the next installment of life in the Quay

If I were 30 years younger, I probably would have loved this book, especially the quirky characters in the village. However, I am 57 and no longer have patience for vapid young women or believe that thoughts of romance are so all-consuming when individuals are struggling to get by. The main character of this story is single mom Anya whose first husband was a conman who probably would be in jail now if he hadn't died. Despite having no idea her husband was such a baddie, Anya experiences no sadness over his loss - just anger over the embarrassment he has caused. Not surprising considering how upset she was as a teenager to have to work on Saturdays to help support her own single mother. Oh, and Anya has no job skills; but she is expects to be given a job that will put her back on her feet again. Her love interest, Rick, is too good to be believable. Of course he sets Anya up with a job with his great uncle, helping to run his hotel. Anya, of course, immediately complains of how boring the job is. Ugh! Give me stronger women! And a story that could have wrapped up in half the time! But with even more characters like Rick's great uncle. Loved him!

When Anya Stokes husband dies she is initially devastated. But finding out that everything they shared was a lie, Anya’s feelings quickly turn to anger. When she loses her home she turns to her family for help and, with her daughter Freya, moves to Halfmoon Quay to stay with her Aunt and Uncle.
There she is reunited with childhood friend Rick Penrose. As a teenager Rick had a crush on Anya, and he quickly finds that the years haven’t dulled those feelings. He also knows that all Anya needs right now is a friend, so he determines to help her in any way he can and keep his feelings to himself.
But Rick is keeping more than his feelings about Anya to himself. And when that secret comes out the fallout could be devastating for the whole family.
This is a lovely book, set in a picturesque Cornish village, with characters you instantly warm to and want to get to know. I can’t wait for the next one.

A nice (somewhat slow) feel-good romance.

Anya has just lost her husband Drew in a car accident. She and her daughter Freya are moving to her aunt & uncle’s place at Halfmoon Quay, having had to give up what they had. Insurance does not cover claims based on an assessment of the circumstances. Her cousin Chloe helps her pack & move. In Halfmoon Quay is Rick who has always felt drawn to Anya. Rick’s Uncle Davy is not well, and Rick convinces him to take on Anya as an assistant to help run his hotel. The job gives Anya the confidence that she can be independent, and she is grateful to Rick. They find themselves growing close to each other, but the circumstances make it not so easy.

There are many characters in the book (mostly through the families) though Anya & Rick are the primary ones. Though the story alludes to some questionable dealings done by Drew, the characters are all simple & loveable. It’s honesty and simplicity are to the credit of the story, as are the characters. I felt it was a bit stretched but found it a relaxing & enjoyable read.

My rating 3.75 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books & the author for a free electronic review copy.

“Just the Beginning” is the first in a new series by Sarah Bennett. I was drawn right in very early on, by the strong sense of community and belonging that the story evokes. “Just the Beginning” is Anya’s story. We meet her in the aftermath of the death of her husband as she tries to move forward, full of grief and regret, from all the lies and debts he left her with. Anya has a loving family to whom she doesn’t want to feel beholden to but has her four year old daughter to think of and needs a fresh start away from her old home. So she moves away to live with her Cousin, Aunt and Uncle. It takes her right back to her childhood holidays where she and her cousins had great times, in the beautiful seaside setting Halfmoon Quay.

I was rooting for Anya to find peace and belonging and ultimately to learn that people can be trusted and that not everyone will take advantage of her or lie to her. Cue Rick, a childhood friend who has always held a huge space in his heart just for Anya. What follows is a cute romance between two lovably, naive characters complete with amusing innuendos, the expected bumps in the road and a grumpy old man to make waves in between times.

As Anya’s story came to a close it was clear it was indeed just the beginning. Not only do I want to know if she gets her happily ever after, each member of the Penrose family and their close friends seem to have their own story to tell. I really want to be there to hear them. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life.
A book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well.

I received a free copy of, Just the Beginning, by Sarah Bennett, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Anya Stokes and her daughter Freya are in Halfmoon Quay, after the loss of her husband/father. Halfmoon Quay sounds like an idyllic location. I liked the characters in this book.

This was a fantastic book from the first page to the last. It draws you into the tangled peoples lives in Halfmoon Quay. Anya is mourning the loss of her husband, but also holding it together for her daughter Freya. It’s strange to be without her husband, but things are looking up when she might get a job. I loved the background of this story and I think it will be a fantastic series and looking forward to finding out what happens to the characters. A brilliant 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

After Anya stokes husband she loses everything she owns including there home when she finds out how he came about his money.

She moves back home to Halfmoon quay with her daughter to live with family until she can get back on her feet.

Rick Penrose has had a crush on Anya since school but was devistated when she married and never really moved on since.
But when anya turns back up he wants to fix everything for her and hopefully grow a freindship with her.

It felt lovely to be back in Sarah’s hands and to be introduced to the residents of Halfmoon Quay. Once again, I can confidently say that this is going to be a fabulous series with some terrific characters. Sarah is skilled at imagining some of the best characters and bringing them to life, and that is evident as we take this first visit to Halfmoon Quay and get to know Rick and Anya.
The synopsis tells us that there is history between the two, but not anything that could make their lives difficult. Ok, so Rick had a teenage crush on Anya, but having been a teenager myself, I know those are easily skimmed over as they are often forgotten as we get older.
Rick is the centre of all things at Halfmoon Quay and is helpful to the point of being irritating. Inserting himself into every crisis and flaunting his fixer gene seems to be both his superpower and his kryptonite. I really felt for Rick, as he clearly has nothing but good intentions and a desire to help. Sadly, he meets his match when he interferes in the lives of his great uncle and Anya. The fallout from his actions leads to some serious soul-searching for both Rick and Anya.
Anya is clearly feeling vulnerable, and I was drawn to her strength and determination to remain independent despite not having the skills to handle her position. She is determined to adapt and looks for ways to enhance her employability. Despite making her position clear, she still finds herself falling into an easy friendship with Rick.
This first instalment is at a gentle pace, and the conclusion will follow in the later books, and I’m fine with that. I know that I can rely on Sarah Bennett to steer this series onto the right path and guide us in the right direction for a satisfying conclusion. I’m already excited to return.