Sunshine and Spaniels by Cressida McLaughlin

Out Now
Published by: Harper Collins, Blue Door
Purchase from Amazon here


The blurb:

Hilarious, touching and fun, Primrose Terrace will appeal to dog lovers everywhere and fans of Lucy Diamond, Cathy Bramley and Trisha Ashley.

Cat Palmer’s dog-walking business, Pooch Promenade is taking off. It hasn’t been plain sailing but with the help of her flatmate Joe, she’s taken on some more new clients from Primrose Terrace. But when she meets boisterous puppy Olaf, who is owned by harassed single mum Frankie, she wonders if she has bitten off more than she can chew! Cat’s also getting to know her sexy neighbour Mark and his Collie, Chips, a little better, but is there more to him than meets the eye?

Perhaps sorting out her best friend Polly’s love life will be easier than her own Sunshine and Spaniels is the second part of a serialized novel told in four parts – all set in Primrose Terrace.


My review:

A welcome return to Primrose Terrace for part two of a four part serialisation. I really enjoyed part one, Wellies and Westies and wasn't let down by this second installment. We meet up with Cat at an event she has organised in the park to promote her dog walking business. The event is quite eventful (and funny!). Whilst in the park she meets two young children out walking their lively and mischievous puppy. When she accompanies them home she discovers that, like Cat, they live on Primrose Terrace and that their Mum, Frankie is a very stressed out single parent.

Cat, along with Polly set out to make life a bit easier and more fun for Frankie. Cat helps out with dog walking and Polly offers to clear out the loft so that she can enter it out to earn some extra money.

As with the first part, the story is told beautifully. My favourite character is Cat. She is a wonderful, warm and funny character. She still has an up in the air kind of relationship going on with her neighbour where he appears to be giving her the run around. Part of me wants to jump in and shake her a bit, but then who knows where it will go from here. I also like her best friend Polly. I would say in real life they would be a formidable duo and I would definitely want to be friends with them.

I am definitely a fan of Cressida's writing style. I find it very easy to follow and get engrossed in. Her writing is descriptive and builds up a clear image of the characters and surroundings. I find this makes it very easy to get to know them and the area, which makes me feel connected to the story and eager to keep turning the pages.

I am not the greatest fan of serialisations, but purely because I am always too eager to find out what happens next. This series is no exception. I am really enjoying it and am very much looking forward to reading what life has in store for them in part three.