Summer at Carrick Park by Kirsty Ferry

Oooooh, what a lovely little gem of a novella!

‘Summer at Carrick Park’ tells the story of Rosa Tempest, a one time baker whose heart was broken by one Joel Leicester. Years later, he walks into the hotel where she is working, and they have to work together to right a potential wedding disaster!

I was hooked almost instantly. It is a quick and easy read, but it certainly does not scrimp on the storytelling. The story is lovely, uplifting and has the feel good factor in abundance, it can’t fail to warm even the coldest of hearts. It even had me laughing out loud on several occasions.

A special mention goes out to the fantastic cast of characters. I loved the dynamic between Rosa and her sisters, and I really would like her godfather and his partner in my life! They were all so well drawn and the relationships completely relatable.

Living in Lincolnshire, I’ve spent many a weekend and a holiday in Yorkshire, so for me the setting was so familiar and comforting. Carrick Park is reminiscent of places I’ve visited, and I loved the mentions of Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay – both places I went to as a child. I discovered at the end of the novel that the author has actually used Carrick Park in a Christmas novel, ‘A Little Bit of Christmas Magic’ (which has already been added to my festive reading list!) and also in Book 1 of the Rossetti Mysteries books, ‘Some Veil Did Fall’.

I really enjoyed this little taste of Kirsty Ferry’s work, and I shall definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

I found ‘Summer at Carrick Park’ to be utterly enjoyable; as light and fluffy as Rosa’s cakes, filled with wonderful characters and topped with sweet and delicious storytelling! Perfect for a lazy afternoon – just don’t forget the cake!! I promise you will crave it by the end!!

Synopsis

A summer wedding, fifty cupcakes and a man she thought she would never see again …
When Joel Leicester walks into the hotel where Rosa Tempest works, she can’t believe her bad luck. Out of all the hotels in all of North Yorkshire, the man who broke her heart would have to walk into Carrick Park!

The last time Rosa saw Joel it was after a whirlwind holiday when they’d been greeted at his flat by a woman claiming to be his fiancée. Rosa never stuck around to hear Joel’s side of the story but now, six years later on, Fate has another trick up its sleeve as a potentially disastrous summer wedding at Carrick Park can only be saved by Joel and Rosa working together …