A lovely uplifting summer read with great characters. I loved the setting in Cornwall and the descriptions of the sand art. Recommended.

A great summer read with a feel good vibe.
The novel is centred around Tammy, a sand artist who has lived in Cornwall all her life. The author's descriptions of this area are so vivd and gorgeous and central to the plot.
Tammy, has trouble with relationships, feeling that she will always be let down in the end - her mother left when she was a child and her father died suddenly five years ago. When Ryan arrives from Bristol, and romance beckons, will she finally be able to commit?
Many ups and downs along the way with some fascinating Cornish characters giving depth to the plot adding to a story of romance, secrets and family.
A happy read.

What a beautiful setting, with beautiful people finding themselves, and each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The characters were great and you could feel the emotion of what they were going through.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This romantic story has an engaging mix of humour and heartache, originality and multilayered characters who are easy to invest in. They are both fallible and relatable. Tammy is a sand artist who still grieves for her father and the loss of her family unit. She is talented and making a name as an artist, but she is afraid of getting too close to others and has a history of failed relationships. Ruan is making a new start on the Cornish coast after an unexpected turn of events. His serendipitous meeting with Tammy leads to deeper feelings than they expected, but both have past issues and secrets that threaten a joint future together. I engaged with the emotional journey the couple experienced and enjoyed the romantic conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

One Cornish Summer With You by Phillipa Ashley. Is a sweet sentimental romance between local sand artist Tammy and Raun, a solicitor who has just inherited a rundown house and moved to the county for a better work life balance.

One Cornish Summer With You is a typical romance novel where boy meets girl, the connection gets closer along the way, until a major event happens which threatens the relationship.

However in the end true love conquers all and the two seem to go on to live happily ever after. In this the writer, Phillipa Ashley does a wonderful job fulfilling this promise.

There are however a few minor issues with the novel.

The first being Tammy’s job, she works part time in a gallery, however her main aim in life is to be a sand artist, as this novel is set in the summer it does feel like the equivalent of a Christmas Tree farmer in a Christmas romance.

The other is the male lead Raun named after the river between Cornwell and Devon the first being the county the novel is set in and the second is portrayed as its rival. I have no issue with that.

The issue is Raun does not do exercise in the normal meaning of the word but he does go kitesurfing, giving him a hint of macho as he does an extreme sport. However at the moment he is taking a break due to an injury giving him a little vulnerability.

Both of these characters are more than this description, but they do sort of fall into the tropical characters in a romance novel.

Add to that the cause of the third act break up is so obvious from the start, that it might as well have a warning siren when the novel mentions the cause in any way.

Having said that if you read the romance genre this is what is the foundation of the story. What makes the difference is everything that the writer adds to these foundations to complete the building.

In this case Phillipa Ashley has written a romance that ticks all the boxes that any reader will want from a summer romance.

Whilst creating beautiful sand art, Tammy meets Ruan a solicitor new to the area. Theres an instant connection but they soon learn they're connected in ways they didn't know. The past is about to come out but can they survive the truth?

This is a perfect summery beach read. Its light, fun and easy to read. The plot was interesting and I loved how it all came together. The ending was beautiful and tied the story off perfectly. This does touch on grief quite a bit but i think it was well handled and honest. I loved Ruan and Tammy. It was also good to see a book focus on good communication. They had a few wobbles but they actually talked things through which was refreshing. The location sounded amazing and I love a cornwall setting. A fun read for summer.

Tammy is a sand artist in Cornwall, who is grieving the loss of her father at sea. Ruan is a lawyer, relocating to Cornwall when his great uncle leaves him a run down property.
There is an instant connection but as both are led by past events, will they end up together?
Just right for a summer break.

Such a great summer read, set on the Cornish coast in a village called Porthmellow. Tammy lives above a gallery when she works, but she also makes sand designs too. She bumps into Ruan a solicitor who’s down in the village for work, will love blossom between the two? It’s a beautifully written feel good book. It’s a light read for a nice summers day. A fabulous 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I really enjoy books by Phillipa Ashley. This was a nice easy read, beautifully written. Characters you learn to love, beautiful settings, drama, laughter and romance of course. Would definitely recommend to those who like nice easy books to read, a good little book to read on holiday.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book. If you are looking for a lovely heartwarming and fairly lighthearted story, than this is it. Set in idyllic Cornwall, we meet local sand artist Tammy and newbie to the area Ruan. Just as we start to see Tammy move on and away from her problems with trust issues, she discoveres Ruan may have a secret that changes everything.

It’s now five years since Tammy lost her father – she’s never really understood the circumstances of his death, and she misses him every day. Although he had his demons, he was the centre of her life after her mother walked away – even when some questionable decisions led to the loss of their home. But she’s a fighter – living in a flat above his ceramics studio, landlord Davey keeps a fatherly eye on her (sometimes too close an eye, but he’s a total sweetheart behind that gruff exterior), and she’s beginning to make a real success of life as a sand artist. When completing an installation that’s particularly special to her, she notices she’s being watched by a rather attractive man in a suit who looks rather out of place sitting on the sea wall – and an incident with an ice cream and a seagull brings Ruan, a solicitor who’s just moved into the area, into her life.

Her independence is really important to her – although she has good friends in her life as well as Davey, she’s always avoided longer term relationships. Well, apart from one – and that really didn’t end well. Ruan slowly gets under her skin, not at all the buttoned-up man he first appears to be – but he has secrets, kept from her for the best of reasons, that he worries might come between them. And things only get worse – even more secrets that might be particularly devastating, all tied up with events of the past that really have to be untangled.

The central romance in this book is quite wonderful – while Tammy won my heart from our very first meeting, Ruan is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I really felt for him too. The chemistry between them is palpable, and very real – and, despite the many obstacles, I so wanted them to have a happy ending. The secrets, and the way they unfold, are so intriguing and well handled – but you’ll find that out for yourself as you read. I enjoyed the friendships too – Davey in particular has his own emotional story – and I absolutely loved the whole concept of the sand art that Tammy created, significant for herself or others but always washed away by the next tide. As well as the emotional ups and downs, there’s more than a touch of drama, plenty of laughter, and the most fantastic supporting characters – just wait until you meet Polly, I just know you’ll love her as much as I did.

I adored this book, the pages turning ever faster – I read it in a couple of uninterrupted sittings, and that was only because we all need to sleep at times. It really was a total delight, full of everything I enjoy, and beautifully written – do add it to your reading list, because I’m sure you’ll love it too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for letting me read this book. In-between my usual genre I like to read a light hearted romantic book. Gripped from the first page, falling in love with the characters the book just kept giving. Although you knew what would happen I couldn't put it down. Can honestly say I was more than disappointed when the story finished. I look forward to reading more by Phillipa Ashley

One Cornish Summer with you by Phillipa Ashley was a really cute story.
Phillipa always weaves a tale that you become engrossed with straight away.
I was no exception!
We arrive in the seaside town of Porthmellow. Tammy has lived there all her life. She’s had a pretty tragic life, losing her mother at a young age and her father in his grief, turning to alcohol and betting. This resulted in them losing her childhood home. Luckily, her parents had some really good friends who helped them so they didn’t have to live on the beach.
At this point in time, Tammy is a sand artist and lives above her friend’s art shop.
Ruan, having a break from work as a solicitor, sits by the beach and watches a beautiful woman making a sand design in the sand before the tide comes in and washes it away. He has recently moved to the area so he is a mystery.
They both glance at each other until their eyes meet and they smile…..
They both have a lot to their characters, and this makes them really interesting to get to know.
Their hidden pasts make it a tense read at times, but boy did I hang on in there!!
Fantastic plot, great characters and a wonderful ending… What more could you want?!!
Many thanks to Random House for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinions are my own.
#Netgalley, #RandomHouse,#Phillipa.AshleyAuthor.

I loved this book! So heartwarming with amazing characters. I would love to be able to visit Porthmellow.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a heartwarming read with quirky characters.

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

Charming, sweet, some good unusual ideas (sometimes hard in this genre) and well written. I was very happy to read this book.
The characters were good, and the writing evocative of the landscape.
For a great beach read, none better, or to while away some time whilst wanting some light, uplifting reading refreshment.

Once again Philippa Ashley has delivered a phenomenal book. Once you start to turn the pages, you will not want to stop. You get taken away from your worries of the day and instantly drawn into the lives of those that you are in Cornwall with.

You can feel the sun beating down as you walk the beaches and also the taste of salt on your lips. Characterisation is sublime and the description mind blowing.

This portrays that you should take the rest of your life with as much zest as is physically possible. Life can turn around for you if you want it to.

This was thought provoking for me. It made me feel sad at times and then burst out laughing.

This is a book you will not be disappointed in beginning. However, you will feel sad when you turn the last page.

Congratulations Philippa Ashley for once again not disappointing an avid fan of your books.

Tammy loved her childhood growing up in the harbour town of Porthmellow. But when her father went bankrupt and her mother abandoned them, she was quick to learn that nothing lasts forever.

Now, Tammy spends her days creating works of art in the golden Cornish sand, and is determined to protect herself from further heartache. But everything changes when she meets Ruan – a gorgeous solicitor who has moved to Cornwall for a fresh start.

Just as Tammy starts to question if Ruan could be the one to break down her walls, she discovers he has a secret – one that unravels everything she thought she knew about her past.

I'm always up for a book set in Cornwall and I've previously enjoyed books by this author so was looking forward to reading this one. Tammy is a beach artist, something that I've seen on TV, but never in real life, but it certainly sounds amazing, whilst Ruan is a lawyer. Chalk and cheese these two wouldn't seem to have anything in common, but they do become attracted to each other. Things come to light in both of their histories, one of which threatens their developing relationship. A lovely read, with the background of Cornwall, friendships and budding romance, I've given it 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.

Another delightful story by Phillipa Ashley. A lovely, mixed cast of characters and a story that pulls at your heart strings.. Based in Cornwall is a bonus and I do love happy endings.

The publisher offered me a review copy of this one because I'd reviewed others of this author's titles in the past. This one had a really clever premise - you think that Tammy, free-spirited sand artist and gallery assistant has met a buttoned-up suity man but Ruan is a displaced Cornishman with a penchant for the sea. As they start to realise they're not so different and to fall for one another, Ruan finds out he's inadvertently become part of something awful to do with Tammy's past and her precarious present - how will this all unwind itself? I loved the cast of characters here - Tammy's protective landlord/friend Davey and his girlfriend Breda, and posh older horsewoman Polly who actually saves the day by riding a horse across country - and there's incidental inclusiveness and diversity which is nice to see in a novel set in Cornwall.

Blog review 7 June 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/06/07/four-netgalley-reads-phillipa-ashley-hiro-arikawa-mo-fanning-jemimah-wei/