Gaele Hi
A favorite from the start, the series is about Polly and her reclaiming her life and chasing her dream as a bread maker, and with what the author mentions as the last in the series, this book couldn’t have packed more punch, answers or drama into the mix. Polly and Huckle have bought the old lighthouse, and are making do with the draughty windows and endless stairs on the remote Cornish Island. She’s feeling more a part of the community, but the pressure to earn more in the slow season as only the locals are left on the island have her busier than ever. All she wants is to have a quiet (read sleep late and binge movies in bed) Christmas, as she wonders about Neil’s return minus his mate and apparent lack of concern with his singleton status. Understand that Neil is a puffin, with his own particular approach to life (naps by the Aga, rides in the sidecar, plenty of baked treats and floury or buttery footprints across the table), and he’s a wonderful character and almost constant companion for Polly. Now engaged, Polly is overthinking the whole “being married and having children’ issue with Huckle. As Kerensa puts is – he hears Polly no love Huckle, Polly no marry Huckle, Huckle so sad, Huckle marry random twenty-year old. He’s not willing to push her, but he’s concerned that she doesn’t want him…or that something is missing. In fact, almost nothing is missing. Kerensa is pregnant with a whole litany of secrets that she has sworn Polly not to reveal. Polly’s own personal history and not knowing her own father, and her mother’s unwillingness to explain or discuss the situation, when combined with the secret that she is keeping for Kerensa has her tense, nervous and wondering about all of the answers she’s missing for herself. A phone call and a chance to get those answers, combined with an invitation / request from Reuben to come for Christmas and cater the baked goods coincides with a request from the manager of the Puffin Sanctuary where Neil met his soon to be ex, and their need for funds to keep going. Add in a baby arriving almost a month earlier than expected, a freak snow storm seeing Nan the Van off the road and leaking carbon monoxide, a last minute request to cater at Reuben’s (again) and a HUGE surprise that removes all decisions and even choice from Polly, the story jumps from one high point to another, bringing heart, family and plenty of growth to Polly and her connection and ties to her own bakery. Through the series we’ve watched Polly grow – from her initial stranger in a strange land feelings on the island, to becoming a welcome and accepted member of the community. Colgan’s writing style makes the story flow easily and feel conversational. You could be sitting next to her in Nan the Van as she trundles over to the mainland, playing with Neil, or watching Reuben raise the roof and generally bully, cajole or buy his way with everything. Even Reuben, with his bluster, bullying and brashness is able to show his true heart: when you are in with him – you need only ask (or seem to need something that his lovely wife, Kerensa, decides is a must have) and there are no holds barred. From the start, this series is transporting and wonderfully engaging: the perfect set of books to transport you elsewhere and have you dreaming of an icy bedroom in the top of a Cornish Lighthouse. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility
