A Wedding at the Beach Hut by Veronica Henry | Blog Tour Review |@veronica_henry @orionbooks #AWeddingAtTheBeachHut

Publisher: Orion
Available in ebook, audiobook and paperback (28 May 2020)
400 pages
Source: Copy received for review via Netgalley

ABOUT THE BOOK

Escape to Everdene Sands, where the sun is shining – but is the tide about to turn?

Robyn and Jake are planning their dream wedding at the family beach hut in Devon. A picnic by the turquoise waves, endless sparkling rosé and dancing barefoot on the golden sand . . .

But Robyn is more unsettled than excited. She can’t stop thinking about the box she was given on her eighteenth birthday, and the secrets it contains. Will opening it reveal the truth about her history – and break the hearts of the people she loves most?

As the big day arrives, can everyone let go of the past and step into a bright new future?

MY THOUGHTS

This is one wedding you won’t want to miss.

A new book by Veronica Henry is always something to look forward to. Having loved so many of her books I couldn’t resist saying yes to reviewing A Wedding at the Beach Hut for the tour, and this was just the type of read I needed at the moment. Although this forms part of the Everdene Sands/Beach Hut series, it can easily be read as a standalone without any loss of enjoyment.

Robyn and Jake not only run a landscaping business together but are also planning their wedding. Neither want anything flashy or big so a casual, simple affair is planned with a celebration for a few family and friends at the ‘Shedquarters’, a beach hut owned by Jake’s father Rocky.

The book isn’t all about the wedding though. With huge changes about to be made to her life, Robyn has a big and very difficult decision to make and she doesn’t want to hurt anyone through her actions. One part of the story follows Robyn as she makes her decision and follows through. 

One of the loveliest things about this book are the characters.  Thirty years old, Robyn and Jake are both kind and genuine. Their love for each other has grown from working together and they are busy trying to make their business a success, as well as renovating the Linhay, an old farm shed, to be their home. Robyn’s parents Mick and Sheila are facing uncertain times as their beloved Hawksworthy Farm is eating the cash and Rocky, Jake’s dad, divorced and lonely now that his sons have left home, is deciding whether to dip a toe in the waters of online dating. His ex-wife Tina is having to face up to her own decisions.

Another character who forms a large part of the story is Emily. I was completely engrossed by her part in this and it made the book for me.

Veronica Henry certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings – she excels at producing well developed and engaging characters, each with an interesting and sensitively written storyline with emotional depth and substance behind them. Love, the importance of family and the need to have a sense of belonging are some of the themes of the book.

I absolutely loved it and actually felt quite sad when it came to the end. And as for unofficial wedding planners – then Robyn’s fabulous friend Gwen with her homely harbourside flat full of collected artefacts must take some beating!

My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for the tour invitation and to the publisher for the review copy via Netgalley.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m Veronica – otherwise known as Ronnie! I have a background in writing television drama (Heartbeat, Holby City) so that has been an influence – creating lots of characters whose lives impact on each other. I was taught ‘Make ’em laugh; make ’em cry; but above all, make ’em wait’!

I hope they are beautifully written, uplifting and a little bit escapist. I’d love to know what you think, so do leave a review. Or you can contact me via Twitter @veronica_henry, or on Facebook or Instagram @veronicahenryauthor

A little bit about me: I live by the sea with my youngest son and a naughty miniature Schnauzer called Zelda. I love cooking and discovering new restaurants on city breaks, with beach walks and a bit of yoga to offset the calories. And books, of course! My biggest influences are HE Bates, Nancy Mitford, Jilly Cooper and any book that has a big rambling house and an eccentric family . . .

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon UK | Waterstones

Other reviews:
How to Find Love in a Bookshop (2016)
Christmas at the Beach Hut (2018)
A Home From Home (2019)