The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay by Nicola May - Book Tour + Giveaway
The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay
by Nicola May
Praise for Nicola May’s books
‘This book will twang your funny bone & your heartstrings’ – Milly Johnson
‘A fun and flighty read’ the Sun
‘A funny and fast-paced romp – thoroughly enjoyable!’ WOMAN Magazine
*
Rosa Larkin is down on her luck in London, so when she inherits a near-derelict corner shop in a quaint Devon village, her first thought is to sell it for cash and sort out her life. But nothing is straightforward about this legacy. While the identity of her benefactor remains a mystery, he - or she - has left one important legal proviso: that the shop cannot be sold, only passed on to somebody who really deserves it.
Rosa makes up her mind to give it a go: to put everything she has into getting the shop up and running again in the small seaside community of Cockleberry Bay. But can she do it all on her own? And if not, who will help her succeed - and who among the following will work secretly to see her fail?
There is a handsome rugby player, a sexy plumber, a charlatan reporter and a selection of meddling locals. Add in a hit and run incident and the disappearance of a valuable engraved necklace – and what you get is a journey of self-discovery and unpredictable events.
With surprising and heartfelt results, Rosa, accompanied at all times by her little sausage dog Hot, will slowly unravel the shadowy secrets of the inheritance, and also bring her own, long-hidden heritage into the light.
Purchase from –
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon CA - https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07B8KML35/
Amazon AU - https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07B8KML35/
Excerpt
Excerpt
This
is where Rosa makes her radio debut to discuss the opening of the shop…
‘So, I’m here with
Rosa Larkin, who is the new owner of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.
Welcome, Rosa.’
Barry
Savage was the image of Mr Toad of Toad Hall, Rosa thought, with his
beige-and-white checked three-piece suit which was stretched to capacity over
his large stomach.
A unified ‘Hurrah!’ came from all
those who knew her and were listening.
‘Oh hi.’ Rosa took a swig of water
from the white plastic cup she had been given. She never said hi! Remembering
Joe’s pre-radio pep talk, she took a deep breath and straightened her
shoulders.
‘How amazing it must have been to
find out you’d inherited the shop,’ Barry began, smiling at her over his
rimless glasses, and suddenly reminding her of the equally smarmy solicitor who
had handed over the battered case to her, just eight weeks ago.
‘Yes, amazing, surprising, slightly
scary - all of those things.’ The last
thing she wanted to do was to open a can of worms about who had left it to her.
Surely Joe wouldn’t have briefed him to that effect?
‘Is it right that you don’t know who
left it to you?’
‘That’s right, yes, but I’m sure
your listeners don’t want to hear about that. It’s the grand opening tomorrow,
and I have lots of fun things planned for all ages.’
‘Oh, I’m sure they do want to hear about it. A mystery
benefactor leaving a shop to a young girl who hasn’t a clue how to run one.
Especially as the shop has been closed for five years and all the locals have
wanted a chance to buy it.’
Joe stopped walking along the cliff
and clapped a hand to his head I dismay. Of course he’d meant to seed that
nugget of information in; it made great radio and would also be an interesting
hook to follow up in the Gazette. He
hadn’t, however, anticipated quite how full-on Barry Savage would be. Like
Suggs with a bone, in fact.
‘Well, Barry,’ Rosa said firmly,
taking control, ‘they are not going to hear about it right now. However, if
they would like to come along to the shop - anytime from ten a.m. tomorrow -
maybe I can tell them then.’
‘Boom!’
Jacob shouted from the sofa. ‘You go, girl. What a complete and utter bastard.’
Joe smiled. Rosa might have no
exams, but she was sharper than even he had realised.
Josh,
listening in Carlton’s car, cared only that Rosa would come out with her
confidence still intact. It was a massive day for the shop tomorrow and he was
glad that he had managed to get away earlier than expected from work, to share
it with her.
‘And as for not having a clue about
knowing how to run a shop, Mr Savage,’
she went on, emphasising his last name, ‘that’s partially true. However, considering I only arrived in
Cockleberry Bay a few weeks ago - just before Christmas, in fact - I am patting
myself on the back for what I have achieved to date. Tomorrow, I have some
great pet products for sale, there will be trinkets and gifts for the children,
plus a face painter. I’ve even got some heart- shaped doggie treats.’
‘Oh, a Valentine’s Day theme for
pets. I see what you’ve done there.’
‘Exactly. I have a mini-dachshund
called Hot and he can be my Valentine anytime.’
‘Hot Dog, ha ha ha, that’s great. But do you
have a real love in your life to mention then, Rosa?’
‘Not to mention – no, Barry.’
Josh laughed out loud.
‘OK, so everyone, looks like it’s
going to be a cold but fine day tomorrow, so head on down to the Corner Shop in
Cockleberry Bay. Fore Street, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. You can park on The Level if
you are driving or get the number 48 bus from Polhampton, which leaves at
ten-thirty. Oh, and I forgot to mention,
there will be free glasses of fizz and snacks on arrival too. Plus a discount
voucher for your first purchase at the shop.’
‘Sounds amazing - and I wish you all
the luck down here in our close community, Rosa.’
The
girl felt nauseous at the insincerity coming from his thin-lipped, podgy red
face. Thank God the interview was over, since she knew she had made an enemy of
Mr Toad.
‘Thank you so much, Barry.’
She
went to remove her headphones, but he gestured to her to keep them on, intent
on moving in for the kill.
‘Oh, and just before you go, Rosa.
Any ideas about who the Christmas Cockleberry Bay hit-and-run driver might be?’
She put her hands out in a
questioning manner, screwed up her face and mouthed, ‘What the f...?’
About Nicola May
Award winning author Nicola May lives in Ascot in Berkshire with her rescue cat Stanley. Her hobbies include watching films that involve a lot of swooning, crabbing in South Devon, eating flapjacks and enjoying a flutter on the horses. Inspired by her favourite authors Milly Johnson and Carole Matthews, Nicola writes what she describes as chicklit with a kick.
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Website - www.nicolamay.com
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Giveaway – Win x 3 Paperback copies of The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay (Open Internationally)
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