When Sacha Collins, cafe owner and sundae-maker extraordinaire, meets Italian archaeologist, Alessandro Salvatore in Rome, she's grateful to him for being her tour guide. Now he's turned up in the seaside village where she lives, known locally as The Boardwalk by the Sea and is setting up a gelateria in direct competition to her retro Summer Sundaes Café. She's only been running her café for two years since taking over from her father and until now the only other shops on the boardwalk, a wool shop, an antique shop and a second-hand book shop have helped rather than hindered her custom. How will her creative sundaes made from fresh Jersey ice cream compete with his delicious Italian gelatos? Sacha is worried. Is there enough custom for both businesses to thrive? Who is behind the strange changes being made at night on the boardwalk? And when the oldest resident on the boardwalk is threatened with eviction can Sacha and Alessandro come together and find a way of helping her? For a peaceful little boardwalk overlooking one of the quieter beaches on the island, there's an awful lot going on and some of it is going to lead to big changes. Ever since one of Sissy's boys spent some time in the English Channel Islands a few years ago, I've wanted to go visit. They sound like such lovely places for a holiday! And let's be honest here, I really want to try some of that famous Jersey cream and a few of the donuts called Jersey Wonders. I wanted to make a batch today to show you readers but Sissy is on a diet and won't let me...
I agree with you that since my son lived there, my awareness of the Channel Islands and my desire to go there grew. But I loved the beginning of the story, set in Rome, when Alessandro was taking Sacha on a whirlwind tour of all the hot spots in Rome and stopping for gelato. It took me right back to my trip to Rome with Mr. Sissy, because we did the same thing. We walked for miles but we made up for it with many scoops of delicious gelato. I've never tasted any since as good as the gelato in Rome.
Some of us haven't been to Rome, so we can't comment on that.
You can just dream about going with Mr. Washboard Abs, Italian model Alessandro.
I'd take Mr. Bubby over Mr. Washboard Abs any day, but I would like to go to Rome. Almost as much as I'd like a Jersey Wonder donut, but not the cabbage loaf bread. That sounds strange. I enjoyed getting to know all of the quirky characters that live on and around the boardwalk, and I'm excited to get to know more about Jersey through the Boardwalk By The Sea series.
There were just enough glimpses into the history and sights of Jersey on the other end that I could picture it and all of the wonderful residents we met. The boardwalk with its quaint shops and nearness to the ocean called to me! How about we go see Jersey via Rome? Introduced in this first book was a bit of a mystery that piqued my interest, which I assume will continue to unfold in the next books. How will Sacha and Alessandro's romance blossom? What's in store for Jack, Lucy, Bella, and Nikki? I suppose I shall have to wait for another delightful Boardwalk By The Sea title to come out!
Click to buy Summer Sundaes by Georgina Troy
