I think Ms. Cass Grafton is going to win herself the award of Queen of the Slow Burn. In fact, I think she might cause someone somewhere to spontaneously combust from frustration waiting for their favorite characters to get together.
About the Book
They’ve both been burned by love before, but will they take a second chance?
A year on from the demise of an unhappy marriage, Kate Stretton grabs the opportunity to move to the other end of the country and start afresh in Cornwall with her teenage daughter, Mollie. Unused to the slower pace of life, Kate leaps at the chance to take on Polkerran Point’s ailing annual arts and music festival.
Soon, though, she locks horns with local Rick Devonshire, the main sponsor for the festival. Rick’s marriage has fallen apart in spectacular fashion, and the last thing he needs is Kate pushing to go against the festival’s traditions.
Nursing their wounds from past relationships, can Kate and Rick find a way to work in harmony? And when Rick’s soon-to-be ex-wife comes back on the scene wanting a second chance, what will he do?
A sweet and emotional romance for fans of Trisha Ashley, Jo Bartlett and Phillipa Ashley.
My Thoughts
If slow-burn is your jam, boy oh boy, do I have an author recommendation for you! And, I’m here for it! I love a good slow burn, and Ms. Grafton delivers a beaut! My goodness!
This is a romance. The whole point of a romance is that you have to have an HEA. It’s just written in the contract. But no one ever said the author couldn’t ruin you in the process. Wow! This one had some heavy topics. And, our characters had to wade through a lot to get through each other. This is not a sweet, gentle ride. This is some drama, some heartbreak, and some tears. You have to earn this one.
But that makes it sweeter when you get there, right?
As usual, I really loved some of the side characters in this one, which is extra funny because some of them were former MCs from previous stories. But, my favorites were the kids – Mollie and Theo, and the old man Ruthers. He has been a recurring character throughout the series, and I always love seeing him. We get to learn even more about him this time, which I was excited about. We also see lots of familiar beloved characters, which makes it feel like visiting friends. All the characters and settings are so well written that they really come alive!
I’m so grateful to the author and to LBT for including me on this tour, and I absolutely can’t wait until the next time we visit Polkerran Point!
Who’s It For
If you enjoy romance novels that have twists and turns, and that offer you a few good serious topics to wade through to earn your HEA, then this is a great read for you!
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including, but not limited to, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Loss, Conception Issues, IVF, Betrayal, Mild Violence, Infidelity, and possibly more.
Question of the Day
What is your favorite thing to do at a fair (fayre) or festival?
Answer of the Day
I really enjoy looking at all the vendors – art, shops, etc. It’s so cool to see all the kinds of things people have to offer. The amazing crafts and talents people have just blow me away!
About the Author
Cass began her writing life in Regency England, enlisted Jane Austen’s help to time-travel between then and the present day and is now happily ensconced in 21st-century Cornwall. Well, in her imagination and soul; her heart and physical presence reside in northern England with her ever-patient husband and Tig and Tag, their cute but exceptionally demanding moggies. A bit of a nomad, Cass has called three countries home, as well as six different English counties, but her aspiration is to one day reunite with her beloved West Country. In the meantime, she writes feel-good contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings. An Ambassador for the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, Cass is also a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Jane Austen Society UK and the Society of Authors.
Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/8ONnS4U
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/frG6E1g
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781804366066
Bookshop UK: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-fresh-start-at-polkerran-point-a-light-hearted-and-beautiful-seaside-romance-cass-grafton/7730140?ean=9781804366066
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221143567-a-fresh-start-at-polkerran-point
Author’s Website: https://cassandragrafton.com/
Additional Reviews and Links
Jill’s Book Cafe: https://jillsbookcafe.blog/2025/04/24/publication-day-for-a-fresh-start-at-polkerran-point-by-cass-grafton-canelo_co/
Sue Loves to Read: https://suewallacesite.wordpress.com/2025/04/30/a-fresh-start-at-polkerran-point-by-cass-grafton-blog-tour-and-book-review/
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.