Since when does Angus think?’ Dad laughed. ‘You know what he’s like. He just wants everyone to be happy.’ The residents of the care home were very entertaining and Greta in particular raised a few smiles. I can only hope when I'm so old I am taken care of at a place like that! Beth's activity ideas were brilliant. I highly recommend this absolute joy of a book-dessert and, please, Heidi Swain, can we have seconds?!! No one at the moment,’ Dad explained. ‘And you know what a big deal Christmas at Wynthorpe is now, so there’s all of that to contend with too.’ Apparently not,’ said Dad, ‘and Hayley the housekeeper and her partner, Gabe, who maintains the grounds, are also away now too. There wasn’t supposed to be much of an overlap with Jamie and Anna’s trip but Gabe’s sister had a change to her schedule and the run up to Christmas suddenly became the only time they’d be able to get together.’

I have no words that can do this book justice!!! It is absolutely beautiful!! I don’t like to have favourites, but I think The Summer Fair is it! There are some other wonderful characters we get to meet in this novel too. Sophie has the aforementioned coffee shop that we know will always feature in some way or another in a Heidi Swain novel and her daughter Hope share a definite affinity for making things bigger and better with main character Tess. And then there are Joe and Sam. Each mysterious in their own way, we can tell there is going to be some romance where these guys are concerned. I think the fact that this novel has the message of slowing down and taking a moment to smell the rose does mean that it moves at a slower pace to previous Heidi Swain books. I feel like it took me longer to get to the crescendo and the ending than in some of the Wynbridge novels where there is always a hive of activity and multiple characters are living their own drama filled storylines. I don't think there was an issue with the pacing, it is just slower than I have come to expect from a Heidi Swain book. This book was heavily influenced by love of music and I have to confess, listening to music is actually not one of my favourite pastimes, however I loved how it brought Beth and Eli closer and helped them battle demons. The lost friendship between Eli and Pete was a really clever aspect, not usual to have a male friendship as such a focus. As a child, Tess Tyler used to holiday in the idyllic seaside town Weymouth with her Mum and dad. That’s when her family were happy. Now grown up, Tess is a high – flyer in the family’s PR business. Her dad is her boss. Her mother died years previously and Tess still hasn’t come to terms with her death. With the stress of her job, and the discovery of her mother’s diary which some of the details leaves her reeling. Tess decides to take a break and without letting her dad know of her plans she finds herself heading to Weymouth. She decides to have a relaxing time while she is there. But circumstances change for the better and she gets close to the locals she shows her skills by helping them find ways to bring more business to the town. Whilst she there she meets past loves and finds things that changes her life forever.

Allison Hay

What a fantastic story this was - Tess is burning out in her high pressured job role and makes a snap decision to take a leave of absence and go to the seaside resort of Wynnouth, the place of so many happy childhood memories for her, to recharge herself. What a breathtakingly beautiful place it sounds, Heidi writes descriptions so well I felt envious of anyone who lives in such a resort! Beth has been through so much and has pushed her passion for music aside, but once she meets the lovely people of Nightingale Square, it becomes quite apparent that her past and present are going to collide.

As this is book 4 (but could easily be read as a standalone), it was so nice to be reunited with some of the previous characters. I'm sure I have said it before but the Square and the Grow Well garden really does sound idyllic with all the wonderful residents and a proper sense of community. If you're partial to quaint seaside getaways, sprinkled with the most warm and welcoming of characters, and family-focused stories with a whole lot of heart and warmth, then 'The Secret Seaside Escape' by Heidi Swain is perfect for you. If you enjoy novels based around tight-knit communities and people each other out in their time of need then, again, this will be right up your street. Heidi Swain writes straight from the heart and it shows within her books. I already can't wait for the next one. It was so lovely to see Beth rediscover her love for music and truly realise how much it meant to her. Music means so much to so many of us, it’s a universal language, and it was really nice to read a book that really showcased the importance of music. The Secret Seaside Escape' by Heidi Swain is a jolly-jaunt of a novel, marvellously uplifting & joyfully warm, much in-keeping with the previous books by this author I've had the pleasure of reading. Combining friendship & relationships, family & self-discovery, dreams and hopes and wishes, this is an inspiring story, encouraging readers to take control of their lives and go after whatever it is that makes their hearts happy, no matter how hard the decisions that need to be made along the way.The wonderful descriptions of Weymouth made me feel nostalgic for past family holidays on the beach. I’ve always loved the idea of moving somewhere new and starting again, so you can imagine how much this book appealed to me. The descriptions were very vivid and made me feel that I was actually there experiencing everything alongside them. I can’t wait to go to the beach when all of this is over.

Settle in for another trip to Nightingale Square, full of love and sunshine that will warm your heart. I loved the close knit community depicted in this book which was heart warming to read about. It was so nice to see everyone looking out for and helping each other for once. There were some fabulous, unforgettable characters which made me laugh out loud at times. George in particular was incredibly funny and Joan and Sophie brought tears to my eyes as they were such lovely people.

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I adored Tess. In fact, I adored most of the characters, from kind-hearted ladies: Joan and Sophie, to comical elderly gent George, and not forgetting the Wynmouth gang! Believe me, you are in for a real treat! I loved the quirky, fun characters that we meet in the care home where Beth works, they add a sense of fun and it was marvellous to see how Beth grew a special community within the home. I do know, yes,’ I said. ‘So, this really is rotten timing for the four of them to be off, isn’t it? Whatever was Angus thinking?’ I think the ‘problems’ that Tess was supposedly running away from were kind of minor however she made such a big deal about keeping it all a secret.. when I really don’t think it was that big a deal? Also a bit confused as to why she didn’t want anyone knowing she had been to Wynmouth before.. was it because of Joe...? I wasn’t really sure and so thought that all seemed a bit silly.. I always love Heidi’s books and couldn’t wait for to read this book and I wasn’t let down simply fantastic and full of escaping from life and a very sunny read full of making new friends finding family secrets and romance. Very sunny read and couldn’t put it down simply a fantastic read.

some things in life simply aren't meant to be rushed. You have to let them run their own course and allow them to happen in their own time.'I so enjoy visiting this wonderful community and it was fantastic to meet some new fabulous characters too!