The Cottage by the Shore: feel-good women's fiction (Applemore Bay)

I love reading the Applemore Bay books, all with likeable characters, and this was a wonderful read

The fifth book in this lovely feel-good romance series set in the Highlands of Scotland is about vet Sophie and artist Ben.Sophie decides to move from her home in Liverpool to Applemore after her daughter wins a scholarship to study and play football in America. She needs a change to do something for herself, especially after the horrendous time she had several years before.Ben, an artist at the Applemore farm shop artisan makers gallery, is used to bring on his own, his daughter off studying civil engineering at University.When Sophie rents the Cottage which lies below his cottage, in an isolated part of Applemore, Ben isn't pleased, preferring the solitude he craves. Can they move past their differences?Thus is a great series, one which I've read in a week or so. Whilst each book is a standalone story, they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.I hope this isn't the last we hear from Applemore. In the meantime, I will be downloading more books by this talented author.

Loved the story but OMG whoever proofread this needs firing. For example, Janine turning into Janice for several pages and then back to Janine again… Hopefully this can be sorted out.

New and old characters mix in this wonderous story of new beginnings.Engaging from page 1 - the characters are immediately likeable and well written.Another fabulous book!

Enjoyed the whole book

I read the book in just over a day and what a great book. My first book by Rachel Lucas but definitely not the last. Romantic escapism, perfect.

The cottage by the shore was a really good read. Really like Rachael Luca’s writing looking forward to reading some more of her books

What an adorable gentle heart warming, well written and descriptive book, that is not over done. Sophie a vet whose life has been difficult decides in a whim of realisation that she is taken for granted and in a rut. She applies for a gets the job of a vet in Applemore local veterinary surgery, where she encounters a caring liveable community. Tabitha her daughter has recently moved to Atlanta on a scholar so her ties are no longer so restrictive. Ben also a single parent who’s daughter Ester works down south as a civil engineer is finishing her post grad course and Ben too although single is very much alone. As ever Racheal descriptions are so vivid you can smell the sea spray, hear the digs pant and taste the atmosphere. A delightful book to escape into and thoroughly enjoy. No dark sinister moments, nor descriptive scenes of passion, but unsaid words that make the imagination fill in the dots. A glorious novel as ever about a wonderful place with great characters old and new.

So well-written and edited (with the exception of Bear suspected having the ear infection but Otto’s going to the vet for treatment) and with such wonderful characters and descriptions of England and Scotland and even a bit of Georgia. So much love, and bit of angst, and perfect dialogue. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance and a happy ending. I plan to read more of this series - it’s always so nice to find a great author.

but I deducted a star for the gratuitous sex scene near the end. It was such a great story before that. I really enjoyed the veterinarian details as well.

The Cottage by the Shore was an enjoyable story to read. It was fun, thoughtful, upbeat, happy, and filled with all sorts of characters in a beautiful setting in the Scottish Highlands. I was very happy to be reading a story that was clean and wholesome, without any sexual encounters...that is, until close to the end of the book. Unfortunately, sex had to come into the picture in what otherwise was a very nice story of two lonely people, finding themselves as newbies in a Highlands community, and slowly discovering that what began as a not-so-good first meeting, gradually became more over time.It is a good story about new beginnings, new friends, new relationships, and finding that happiness can happen when one strikes out on their own and faces an unfamiliar future that is not in their comfort zone. A good story like this doesn't need to have sexual content to be good.

There were a few places early on that needed editing, but the great characters and charming story more than made up for that. The mark of a good fiction book is feeling a part of the story and this book did just that. The romantic parts were tastefully written.

I certainly wouldn’t mind visiting the highlands myself. Heart warming story about a small townCommunity and its newest resident. A veterinarian who encourages her daughter to “Be brave, take chances”, and decides to follow her own advice. A very nice tale.