A review by kimdenise
Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles: The Driftwood Inn by Phillipa Ashley

2.0

I have a weakness for sweet little romances in quaint, charming settings, especially at Christmas. I love books with a strong sense of place, so I can usually overlook a weak plot if I enjoy the setting and the characters. But I am SO TIRED of "romances" where people never, ever tell each other what they're thinking or feeling. Everything is some kind of tortured secret, for the skimpiest of reasons. They go on and on in agony, because apparently a lifetime of anguish is preferable to the risk of revealing one's feelings. It's frustrating and ridiculous. There really are better ways to develop tension than utterly unnecessary inner turmoil.

The setting for this one is charming, and the characters and community are, for the most part, likable and appealing. I really wanted to settle in and enjoy it. But the angst-ridden plotless plot just killed it.

I might be willing to try later books in this series (I really do like the setting), but I can't recommend this one.