Beachside Bay Series by Karen Clarke

Chocolate fudge, butterscotch and raspberry bonbons… treat yourself to some sugary treats, a big slice of friendship and a sprinkling of romance at The Beachside Sweet Shop. When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help... moreChocolate fudge, butterscotch and raspberry bonbons… treat yourself to some sugary treats, a big slice of friendship and a sprinkling of romance at The Beachside Sweet Shop. When Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she’s recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help. Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she’ll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie’s shop. Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate. And then there’s Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional…Will both the sweet shop and love flourish? A deliciously heartwarming read about family, friends and handmade coconut ice. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Debbie Johnson, and Tilly Tennant. less

Roses for romance, daisies for hope, daffodils for unrequited love... Drop by The Beachside Flower Stall for friendship, family and a beautiful bouquet. Carrie Dashwood fled Dorset when her best friend Megan stole her first love, Tom Hudson . Now ten years later, Carrie is back to help run her aunt Ruby’s flower stall in the beautiful seaside town of Shipley. Ruby’s Blooms is a gorgeous little haven bursting with character, but Carrie is in for a real shock... moreRoses for romance, daisies for hope, daffodils for unrequited love... Drop by The Beachside Flower Stall for friendship, family and a beautiful bouquet. Carrie Dashwood fled Dorset when her best friend Megan stole her first love, Tom Hudson . Now ten years later, Carrie is back to help run her aunt Ruby’s flower stall in the beautiful seaside town of Shipley. Ruby’s Blooms is a gorgeous little haven bursting with character, but Carrie is in for a real shock. The stall is also arranging the flowers for Megan and Tom’s wedding. Determined to keep her emotions in check, Carrie finds herself going to great lengths to avoid the happy couple. Soon she’s crawling under the stall to hide and 'accidentally' inventing an imaginary boyfriend…But how long can she keep it up before she comes face to face with the boy who broke her heart? Can Carrie keep her cool, save the stall, and find her very own happy ever after? A heartening uplifting read about lost love and true friendship. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Cathy Bramley, and Debbie Johnson. less

Tinsel, fairy lights and mistletoe... Everything you need for a perfect Beachside Christmas. When Lily Ambrose needs a fresh start, she remembers her happy childhood holidays in the seaside town of Shipley, and decides it’s the perfect place for a cosy Christmas hideaway. Keen to make new friends, Lily promises to source a celebrity to turn on the Christmas lights... moreTinsel, fairy lights and mistletoe... Everything you need for a perfect Beachside Christmas. When Lily Ambrose needs a fresh start, she remembers her happy childhood holidays in the seaside town of Shipley, and decides it’s the perfect place for a cosy Christmas hideaway. Keen to make new friends, Lily promises to source a celebrity to turn on the Christmas lights. But when reality star Ollie turns up with his cameraman Craig, with plans to make a TV show out of his stay, things quickly go awry. Ollie is gorgeous but unruly, and soon decides that staging a romance with a normal girl – a girl like Lily – is exactly what he needs to save his fading reputation… With new neighbours to impress, and Ollie’s over-enthusiastic attentions to fend off, can Lily bring the Christmas cheer back to Shipley – and find herself a real kiss under the mistletoe? A heart-warming and uplifting read about friendship, romance, and Christmas spirit. Perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Cathy Bramley, and Debbie Johnson. Read what people are saying about Karen Clarke: ‘Within the first page turn I was laughing out loud… It was a delight to read.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars ‘Brilliant! Such a beautiful, heart warming story! Loved every word! So well written. A magical, feel good tale. Loved, loved, loved. Highly recommend it to everyone.’ Renita D’Silva ‘Had me chortling away… really funny… I absolutely loved it.’ Short Book and Scribe, 5 stars ‘Light-hearted and witty... Kept me glued to the pages.’ On My Bookshelf, 4 stars ‘I feared I would short circuit my Kindle with tears from laughing.’ Books from Dusk til Dawn, 5 stars ‘Funny, heart-warming and entertaining.’ Where the Reader Grows, 4 stars ‘Light, quick moving and engaging.’ I am Indeed, 4 stars ‘Very enjoyable… a lovely read infused with warmth, humour and romance.’ Shaz’s Book Blog ‘Fantastically funny… an entertaining read.’ Jo’s Book Journey ‘A sweet and charming read.’ Pretty Little Book Reviews, 4 stars ‘I really enjoyed this book… all the characters were lovable.’ Katie’s Book Ends, 5 stars ‘This book was a great read, so easy to dive into and get lost… Highly recommend it… dive in and forget the world around you.’ Trish B’s Blog, 4 stars ‘Heartfelt and hilarious… Karen Clarke’s writing is an absolute joy to get lost in… This book is truly the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon.” Clues and Reviews, 5 stars less