Tilly Tennant comes to the blog with a story all about family, coming home and second chances in
The Waffle House on the Pier
There’s no secret that I love a Tilly Tennant story – some more than others, true, but I’m always up for the read. There’s something in knowing that things, no matter how dire they become, will be better by the end. And Sadie’s story was no different. Growing up in the seaside town left her longing for “more” even when she didn’t know what that meant. And at eighteen and sure of ‘more and better out there’ she broke it off with her long-term boyfriend and best friend and headed out. Now taking a teacher training course (that she hates) and sure that giving this up will only reinforce her family’s censure, she’s determined to make the Waffle House, started by her grandmother and newly deceased grandfather.
Of course, things aren’t smooth: her grandmother is displaying all the signs of dementia, her parents and siblings think sell is the best option, and she’s still drawn to her ex Declan – as the two are best friends, despite his new relationship and those struggles. Enter Luke, an outlyer from the city who purchased an old chapel from the last ‘outlyer’ who was going to rehab the building into a house. An accident where he nearly ran Sadie over with his boat meant that his ‘stranger’ status, in a town that always rallies round its own made things more difficult.
Back and forth with Sadie’s worries about her feelings for both Declan and Luke, her struggles with the shop and her grandmother’s increasing illness, the reality that she doesn’t know diddly about managing the business, and plenty of moments where family upheaval becomes the center point of the story leave readers wondering about the happy ending here. Not quite a rom-com, and not entirely a romance, the characters, their histories, the small town and the community feel make this a story well worth reading. It puts you in the center of the small community where tourism is a mainstay, and everyone knows (and has suggestions about) you.

Title: The Waffle House on the Pier
Author: Tilly Tennant
Genre: British, Contemporary Woman's Fiction, Family Saga, Friendship, Humor elements, Romantic Elements, Second Chance, Setting: Britain, Small Town
Published by: Bookouture
ISBN: 1838888187
Published on: 22 June, 2020
Format:eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Pages: 298
Rated:

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Run away to Sea Salt Bay, where the sand is warm and soft, the sea is a perfect blue, and a candy-coloured waffle house is about to change Sadie’s life…
For as long as she can remember, Sadie’s grandparents have run the waffle house on the pier at Sea Salt Bay. With its pretty painted chairs, sweet smells, and the warm advice of her beloved grandparents, the waffle house is like a second home.
But when Sadie’s grandfather dies, leaving her grandmother without an anchor, Sadie must make a difficult decision. She quits her job and moves back home, determined to keep things going. The trouble is, she knows nothing about running a business, and learning at a million miles an hour with a shop full of hungry people isn’t easy. When she nearly burns the waffle house down, she has to admit she needs to get some help.
Her ex-boyfriend Declan promises to be there for her but Sadie worries that getting too close is a mistake – especially as he has a new girlfriend now. And anyway she’s just met newcomer Luke, with his gorgeous suntan and mellow voice…
Sadie’s family have always loved Declan and they’re not too sure about Luke, leaving Sadie unsure which way to turn. A terrible accident at sea forces her to look into her heart, but what if it’s already too late to tell the right man that she loves him?
If you love stolen kisses under the pier, walking along spray-capped shores eating ice cream, and books by Lucy Diamond, Jill Mansell and Jenny Colgan, you will fall in love with this romantic, heart-breaking read.
A copy of this title was provided via Publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
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