Summer at Studland Beach

by Della Galton

This book was previously published as Moonlight Over Studland Bay.

When best friend Abby has a beautiful baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life.
Uninspired with her dull day job Sam plans to expand Purbeck Pooches, her seaside pet sitting business into a full-time career and embarks on a mission to find her perfect man.
Sam soon hits trouble. Her boss accuses her of moonlighting. The perfect man is frustratingly elusive and her parents make a shock revelation.
The odds are stacking up against her but Sam finds that sometimes when you reach for the moon, you get a handful of glittering stars thrown in for free.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Womens Fiction

319 pages, ebook

First published November 24, 2020

About the author

Della Galton (aka Della Parker) writes novels set in Dorset, featuring quirky characters and very often a dog or two. She's had more than 2000 short stories published and she's run out of fingers to count her books on.

She is a popular speaker at writing conventions and the agony aunt for Writers' Forum Magazine.

When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside and beaches.

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ A Heartwarming, Uplifting and very Entertaining Read.

Moonlight Over Studland Bay is a Heartwarming, Uplifting, sweet and very entertaining and enjoyable read with plenty of laughs, an array of adorable fur babies and a lil bit of drama and romance.

Right from the first chapter and the crazy pregnancy drive with the risk of the mice escaping & running wild in the car had me giggling out Loud and I knew this book was going to be blooming brilliant, and I was right.

Sam the main character currently shares her home with best friend Abby and her newborn baby Jack. She is also running her new part time business venture from her home,  'Purbeck Pooches' where she not only does dog walking but she sometimes takes boarding too for all kinds of Animals such as horses & rabbits etc..
Animals are her number one love, although watching Jack's birth has certainly got her all brooding for a baby.

But can Sam finally leave her typist job and purse her dreams of making 'Purbeck Pooches ' a full time success.


I absolutely loved this book. Della Galton is an incredibly talented Author, and her books are always so beautifully written, her characters are so engaging and likeable.

So if you are looking for an Uplifting, Cosy,  light hearted,  thoroughly enjoyable read that will definitely have you giggling and smiling, then I can't Recommend you picking up a copy of Moonlight Over Studland Bay by Della Galton enough!



Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.





You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe this was a case of the right book at the right time and I was in the right frame of mind for this, but I really enjoyed this charming bit of pure escapism. Samantha and Abby live in Beach Cottage in Dorset. Sam and Abby have been inseparable friends since they met in year 7. When the story starts they are 36 years old and on a frantic rush to the hospital.
Though Sam works as an audio typist in Rex’s company, Fielding and Son, she harbours a desire to further Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting business. Currently run part time she wants to make it into a full time business.
Sam is there for Abby at the birth of her baby, Jack. The baby’s father, Paul, a would be musician, is out of the picture. Their relationship has been on and off again for years. Could it be permanently off this time?
The birth of Jack starts Sam’s biological clock ticking. With Abby’s encouragement on a drunken celebration night they create a profile for Sam on an online station dating service. They playfully write a list of a perfect candidate for a father for Sam’s future baby. It’s all a bit of fun. Until reality sets in.
Then Sam’s parents hit her with some totally unexpected news that leaves her shaken. A novel of friendship, family, romance, dreams, choices and consequences.
I loved the friendship between Sam and Abby. Both Sam and Abby are likeable, even though Abby is a drama queen and quite the opposite of Sam. There are some quirky characters especially Mr B and others including Hypochondriac Heather who works with Sam at the office. There are some amusing scenes especially in regard to Mister B and his pigs, yes, I did say pigs. I thought the few incidents of the f word were unnecessary, plus I wasn’t convinced about the tell all epilogue. But overall, I enjoyed this gentle, escapist fun read. This is not an author I had read before but going by this sample I’d be interested enough to read another book by her.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Plans & Dreams*

This was a great tale about Samantha aka Sam. She loves animals and her dream is to have a pet sitting business. She has a rather uninspiring job that she needs to cover her bills. She starts her dream job in a small way spare time and dreams of ways to making it a full time career.

Her best friend Abby lives with her and her baby is due any minute and Sam is the birthing partner. Where is the father? Sam never wants to have children as she prefers animals but when she witnesses the baby’s birth Sam is surprised at how much she craves a family of her own.

We then see her journey to finding a love she never thought possible with some misunderstandings along the way that take her by surprise.

A light and easy read that has some tender moments. I love the setting based around the Dorset beaches and around The New Forest.

I suggest if you read this series that you read them in order as there are references to previous characters.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

By no means have I read everything that Della has written but I have read and thoroughly enjoyed a couple of her books. ‘Moonlight Over Studland Bay’ is Della’s latest book and it was released on 24th November 2020. It is another cracking read from Della Galton which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit.

I loved the character of Sam and I took to her from the start. In fact it didn’t take me long to feel as though Sam had become a good friend of mine. Sam is the sort of person I could easily imagine putting the world to rights with over a cup of tea and a nice slice of cake. Sam has two jobs at the moment – one as an audio typist for a local company and she also has a pet sitting business called ‘Purbeck Pooches’. She doesn’t just look after dogs, she looks after goats, horses and well any kind of animal really. Her heart really lies with ‘Purbeck Pooches’ and she has dreams of being able to give up her job as an audio typist so that she can focus on ‘Purbeck Pooches’ full time. Sam deserves a bit of happiness and I kept everything crossed that she would realise her dream and find the happy ever after ending that she so deserved. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.

It didn’t take me long at all to get into this book. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat and that I would find it nigh on impossible to put the book down for any great length of time. I think that part of the reason being I had taken so well to Sam and I needed to know how things panned out for her. Reading ‘Moonlight Over Studland Bay’ soon became an addiction and I was constantly in need of my next ‘fix’. Despite my best efforts to ration how much I read at once in order to prolong my enjoyment of the book, I sped through the book in a single day, which is very good going for me.

‘Moonlight Over Studland Bay’ is a superbly written book that grabs your attention from the start and draws you into what proves to be a delightful and warm hearted read. The author described the locations that vividly and made them sound so beautiful that I was all for packing my suitcase and heading there myself. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Della’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I was gripped by this story from start to finish and when I got to the end of the story, although I was sad to have finished the book, I felt all warm and fuzzy inside.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Moonlight Over Studland Bay’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will be reading more of Della’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real cosy heart warming feel good read, I would definitely recommend this book.

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/revie...

I found it easy to ‘fall into’ Sam’s life.

From our first introduction to her on the way to hospital it’s clear she is the voice of reason and stability as opposed to best mate Abby’s whirlwind. I loved their friendship and thought it deepened even more with the birth of Jack. For me, Abby is the character that grows the most as she becomes the nurturer. She provides lighter moments as she urges Sam on in her quest to find a partner. Online dating! Users names gave me a giggle. Poor Sam 🙂

There are some lighter moments with Purbeck Pooches and the animals Sam looks after. Snowy the goat had me thinking the worst and I had no idea what was behind Mr B’s Kunekune pigs. I loved this thread in the story.

The setting is, of course, awesome. Beach Cottage on Studland is idyllic for so many reasons. The perfect place for your home and business! I’ll be reminded of Sam the next time we’re in Studland.

I loved that this isn’t all about the romance (although the story is all about relationships). Sam’s work colleagues add colour and there’s plenty of love between Sam and her parents.

Moonlight Over Studland Bay is one of those stories that carries you along without you realising it – great characters, awesome setting and a great pace. Recommended.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second read of Della Galton’s and I’m excited to say that I think I’ve found a new favorite author! It seems like it’s overly-typical for me to find a one-hit-wonder sometimes with authors. But, that is not even close to being the case with Galton.

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. The main character, Sam, was a joy to read about. She was the sort of main character that I wish would get more stories!

Sam and her friendship with Abby may have been my most favorite aspect to this story. I think that most women want that best friend that they can be family with–the woman who knows them so well and will be there through everything–that’s what Sam and Abby have.

On top of that, the romance in this story was slow, sweet, and completely perfect. I wasn’t honestly sure if the man who Sam ended up with in the end was the man I was hoping it would be–but it was! And Galton, wove their story naturally and beautifully.

This story hit all my buttons, and it even had some crossover from her other amazing book, Sunshine Over Bluebell Cliff. This book does stand on its own, however.

[ReadingGirlReviews (Gina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was just what I needed. I am battling a very bad case of a RA flare and boy am I miserable. There is really nothing to do except rest, stay nice and warm under my electric blanket (it soothes my joints) and take some pain meds (which I hate). So there is nothing better than having a quirky, funny, heartwarming romcom/women’s fiction book to keep me company. Thank you Boldwood Books and Della Galton for keeping me cheerful and comforted.

Samantha Jones is ready to make a change. When her friend Abby has a baby, it sparks a fire under her to make more out of her own life. Sam decides she wants to expand her pet sitting business to a full time career and is ready to find the perfect man and settle down. But Sam soon hits a few glitches when her boss from her audio typist job accuses her of moonlighting, the search for the perfect man is more difficult than she expected, and her parents throw a whopper of a revelation into the mix. Will Samantha find a way to fulfill her goals? Will she find her happy ever after? Awe, come on, you can’t possibly think I am going to tell you….. you gotta read the book.

When Trisha Ashley called MOONLIGHT OVER STUDLAND BAY “Utterly uplifting, pure escapism” she nailed it. There’s really not much more to say. The book is laugh out loud funny with unique and lovable characters, and totally unputdownable. Not only does it have one of the coolest titles (I can’t understand why Sam couldn’t find Mr. Perfect in a place called Studland Bay) but the entire book just brightens and perks up your mood and gives you those warm fuzzy feelings you look for when reading a book. I absolutely loved this one and if you need a pick me up and a quick read, grab this one right away. I guarantee you will love it.
Undoubtably a 5 star read.

Thank you so much to @DellaGalton, Boldwood Books, @bookandtonic, @Netgalley and Rachel Gilbey from @RachelsRandomResources for my gifted copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Anne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The publishers have called this book “a heartwarming read of family, friendship and growing up”, and they really have pitched it absolutely right. There’s a romance too – a really lovely unexpected one, fraught with obstacles and misunderstandings – but perhaps the real joy of this book is Sam deciding on the life she wants, the future that will make her happy, and everything she needs to do to make it happen.

To start with, the focus is very much on friendship – Abby, who’s life really is rather messy, is living with Sam when she becomes a mother. There’s a lovely closeness about their friendship – but to be honest, I think she’d have driven me insane, loud and brash and pushy, everything Sam really isn’t. She also constantly calls Sam “girlfriend”, which began to become a real irritation – but she does mellow considerably when baby Jack comes along. And Jack’s presence makes Sam think about what she really wants – she’s really not looking for love, but she does find herself getting a bit broody, and dips her toe into online dating with Abby’s “help” just to explore the possibility a little.

But the dream that really drives her is making her business, Purbeck Pooches – dog walking, a bit of boarding not just for dogs but for animals of all sorts – into enough of a money-earner to allow her to leave her day job as an audio typist to a team of structural engineers. The workplace scenes are really well done, with the most wonderful cameo characters like Hypochondriac Heather, Mumbling Mike (the curse of audio typists everywhere), Lightning Jake, Magpie James and buttoned-up boss Rex, while Sam struggles to keep some separation between her work life and the business she’s trying to build. Things start to come together when some money unexpectedly comes her way – amid some family developments that cause more than a little angst – and one of her less-than-successful dates comes up with an idea for her business that becomes a bit of a game-changer.

If you read the author’s last book, you’ll remember the enigmatic (and distinctly unhinged) Mr B, chef at the Bluebell Cliff Hotel – but if you didn’t, you’ll love meeting him for the first time as he arranges some babysitting for his kunekune pigs (do Google them – they’re so cute!), a new venture that brings drama just at the point when Sam’s dreams are starting to come together but other things in her life are falling apart. (It was really lovely to see Cara and three-legged dog Foxy again too – and to spend just a little time at the hotel again).

The whole story has a lovely lightness of touch, really uplifting, extremely funny at times, very touching and emotional at others – and it’s beautifully told. There’s conflict at times, enough to drive the story, gently done and always with a bit of a smile, and the story never really loses its overall warmth and feel-good. And there’s an exceptional sense of place, which I always enjoy – Dorset, the Isle of Purbeck and Studland bay were already on my bucket list after the author’s first book, and have now been inked in even more firmly.

I really like Della Galton’s writing – this book was everything I wanted it to be, and I’d really recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read to escape from the realities of life for a while. Highly recommended by me.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I'm not, nor have been, a frequent visitor to Dorset I loved the setting of Studland Bay in this novel by Della Galton. Thirty-six-year-old Samantha Jones is the owner of Purbeck Pooches, her seaside pet sitting business. She also has another job as an audio typist which she finds rather dull, so is looking to make a career out of Purbeck Pooches and perhaps she will find herself a romantic interest along the way...

This is a delightful story about friendship, families and following your dreams. Heartfelt and authentic, the characters portrayed by Della Galton were fun and caring, and even the slightly less amiable Rex, Sam's boss at Fielding & Son had a great part to play in the tale. With touches of verve and pizzazz provided by the more eccentric ones, I found it difficult to put this novel down. A quality, insightful and very worthwhile read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Boldwood Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studland Bay is an iconic Dorset beach and was one of my family's favourite places to take us when we went to Dorset on holidays when I was a child. The one time we revisited the beach during my adult life, the memories of the area flooded back.

This is my second book by Della Galton and she chooses what for me are iconic settings. As in my last review of a book by Della, I have memories of my A'level Geography teacher and his love of the Jurassic Coast every time I hear the words Isle of Purbeck. He gave us such vivid descriptions of the processes that formed the area that I would daydream about being there again.

The plot runs smoothly in some parts and is well-thought out. In others, not so much. I felt it lagged in some areas. There were some word echoes (repititions of words close together) as in the word very in chapter 4 very glad that the beach house had thick stone walls. She was also very very glad they had no neighbours.

Abby was funny and a straight talker. I liked her a lot all the way through. I loved being part of her pregnancy and witnessing baby Jack's birth. Sam was caring and focused.

Sam and Tucker were great together and this is my favourite quote by Tucker: I love you, Jenna." He took her mittened hand. It's as simple as that. You light up a part of me I didn't even know was dark."
This is so romantic. I liked the scenes with Danny, too. Sam was not lucky in love and Gary Collins was a client of hers years ago but their relationship ended.

Moonlight over Studland Bay is full of imagery and I especially liked the original way Sam's hangover was described as a mouth that felt drier than a sun-scorched sand dune. Purbeck Pooches was a really nice name for Sam's company.

One thing that made the book lose points in my opinion was during the scene at the funfair when Sam's colleagues are joking around and one asks if Heather has special needs and the way Mike agrees. As someone with complex and severe disabilities, I have never thought that the use of this kind of language is funny and it is maybe meant to be used as a light-hearted joke here or to show the character is laid back in their way of speaking. It just doesn't work for me. I hope that other people with disabilities or their caregivers are not offended. I think this could offend many.

Other than that, Midnight over Studland Bay is a light novel with some tender moments and homely settings.


Thanks to Della Galton, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first but certainly not my last Della Galton book. This book made me laugh and cry. A lovely heartwarming story

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute delight to read. It’s full of friendship, community and love. The main character, Sam, was adorable, she’s a great friend, hard working, fit way more than I could in and she was so cute, I loved her. It’s a heartwarming read, full of fun, romance and great characters , you won’t want this book to end.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of Della's books I've read and I'll certainly look out for others.
I enjoyed the story and found the characters who were very believable and easy to like.
I found myself becoming irritated with the constant use of hon, honey and girlfriend between Abby and Sam which felt very false (to me)
Would have been 4 stars otherwise as a really lovely story and such a beautiful area of the country.

[Beth Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming read

A genuinely heartwarming and uplifting read with a wonderful setting. I loved how the relationship developed between Sam and Rex, and look forward to reading more from Della Galton

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha Jones is working as a typist for an engineering firm while trying to get her own ‘passion project’ off the ground. Living on the coast, she’s lucked into a lovely cottage on the shore, has several ‘regular’ clients for Purbeck Pooches, and a sold friendship with her childhood best friend, Abby. Now that Abby is again single, but with a lovely little baby, Sam’s own clock has started ticking, even as she’s not really found “the one” since her last relationship fell apart.

But with her work and juggling a business that doesn’t seem to be growing like she’d like, and a wine-fueled night where she signed onto a dating site – she's checking out the options. And all of them are coming up blanks. With the exception of a new potential friendship and option for her business. Add in her parents’ decision to sell up their own business and possibly emigrate, Sam’s feeling decidedly left behind and out of sorts.

Enter several interesting moments with her boss and the owner of the engineering firm, Rex, and discovering that he’s also got a ‘passion’ for something she never thought of – and the story starts to take shape. With missteps and miscommunications, lovely moments of friendship, family and new starts, and a chance to take the plunge and dive into her own passions, Sam has a ton of growth, self-discovery and plenty of opportunity for a new start. A lovely story full of hope, laughter, second chances and dreams.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had been waiting for this book having enjoyed the first instalment in this series. Studland Bay evokes images of dramatic scenery, in my mind, and Della Galton paints wonderful backdrops.
Moonlight Over Studland Bay moves away from Bluebell Cliff but still refers to the hotel and its characters; Mr B, the fiery chef, makes several appearances as do his precious pigs.
Samantha is in something of a dating rut; she shares her home with best friend Abby and her baby. As she reflects on her life, she realises that she needs to move her dream to own her own business to the next level. She also needs to find a man if she’s ever to have a child of her own.
The events that follow are amusing as she navigates the world of internet dating. Of course, the path of love is never smooth, and the perfect man can be found in the unlikeliest of places.
Add to this her parents’ retirement and plans to move to Cyprus and it hard to imagine how Sam will ever find happiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sam was immediately engaging, and it was easy to get behind her as the lead character. No spoilers from me, but the romance is lovely when she finds it.
I do enjoy it when there are no parts of the story left untold; even Mr B got his moment in the spotlight.
This is a wonderfully light-hearted read, full of good friends, romance and entertainment. It can be read as a stand-alone story if you haven’t read the first instalment.

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Jones works as an audio typist for a local company in Dorset. However, it’s not her dreams job. She wanted to devote, and expand, Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting service.

When best friend (and housemate) Abby has a baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life. Does she want life to continue as it is or does she want to look for the perfect sperm donor – on a drunken evening Abby and Sam draw up the perfect list.
Sam’s world is soon rocked when her boss Rex accuses her of moonlighting and her parents who have run a B&B locally for year make a shock revelation.


I’m going to say it from the start…I loved this book! Sam is a relatable character who knows what she wants from life, but she doesn’t want to upset, hurt or trample on people to get it. She’s just an all-round good egg!!

There were times in the book when Abby made me laugh but also annoyed me a bit but she is obviously a good friend to Sam.

I actually squealed with delighted at one point when Sam bought a lasagne from Cook for a meal she was cooking for someone, that was exactly what my other half did on our second date!!!
With no mention of this rotten virus or the horrible time that we are all going through, this book transported me back to a normal life, when we could socialise with friends, or go out to pubs/restaurants and it was so lovely to move away from the horrible news.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this lovely book to everyone.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Della Galton is an author I have been aware of for a very long time; I've read so many of her short stories in magazines in years gone by!

Sam Jones is a busy lady; as well as holding down a full time office job, she has a fledgling business, both dog-walking and boarding many different animals. Luckily, she has cheap rent of a cottage with a bit of land attached and she is desperate to be able to afford to devote herself to it full time. In the meantime, she has her best friend Abby and her new baby living with her and, much to her own amazement, Sam begins to long for family life for herself - but her perfect man has proved elusive so far. Then there's her boss to deal with and her parents have upsetting news . . .

I was full of awe for Sam - she had so much energy to get things done! This is a lovely story - very realistic and full of fun moments; however, I worked out quite early who her perfect match would be so from then on it was just a matter of waiting - but then I probably read a lot more than most! There are some amazing animal antics which, of course, I loved and giggled at. Well written, easy reading and very enjoyable, I'm happy to give this one four stars.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely warm romance set in Dorset is what I've come to expect from Della Galton, and this story doesn't disappoint. It has all the ingredients - a likeable heroine with a madcap friend, and several handsome male contenders for the love interest. It's even got a cute baby, along with dogs, goats and a couple of KuneKune pigs! The scene is set for hilarity, but there are plenty emotional moments along the way as Sam Jones aspires to expand her pet sitting service Purbeck Pooches, while appeasing her stuffed-shirt boss at her day job, dealing with the perils of internet dating, helping her friend Abby with new-born Jack (and discovering she might just be a bit broody herself) and coming to terms with her parents' sudden decision to move abroad. The writing is descriptive, the pace flows and I really liked all the different characters - even the pigs! I enjoyed this one a lot, and will be taking part in the blogtour at www.karensbookbag.co.uk near publication day.

[Michelle Lamude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to this book by the pretty cover and the fact that the main character Sam, dreamed of one day running her dog walking business, Purbeck Pooches, full time.

I really resonated with Sam throughout this book, I wanted to be her by the end. Sam’s story is set in The Isle of Purbeck, somewhere I’ve not visited. Throughout the book there were references to Old Harry Rocks and the South West Coast Path. The location sounded fabulous and the book left me wanting to visit with my own dogs.

As well as Sam, there were several great characters in this story. Firstly Abby, her loyal but potty-mouthed best friend (and housemate), who I really enjoyed. Then there were Sam’s work colleagues. Rex her aloof Murray Mint boss. There was also Hypochondriac Heather, Mumbling Mike, Lightening Jake, Magpie James… you get the idea (your typical mixed-bunch office team). Finally, and best of all there was Mr B. A master creative chef who’s totally obsessed with his Kunekune pigs. Google them (I did) they’re adorable!

A laugh out loud delightful read. I enjoyed following Sam’s heart-warming story as she struggles to realise a dream. Does she do it, you’ll have to read the book to find out.

This is the first Della Galton novel I’ve read and I would like to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Della Galton, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Axon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this read!

I loved this book and it's characters. She really does beautifully describe Studland Bay, I do live in Poole ( which is the nearest town to Studland Beach) and we take the Sandbanks ferry over to Studland Bay alot so it was lovely to really picture all the places the author has mentioned in her books, they really are as beautiful as she describes. So if you ever come down to Dorset, please check out Studland Beach, take a boat trip around Old Harry's Rocks and have Fish and chips in Swanage or a take the steam train on the Swanage Railway that goes past Harmons Cross and Corfe Castle. The Isle of Purbeck is a magical place and thank you for bringing it alive.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, quirky and entertaining book to read. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it and found out, I rather enjoyed it.
There are many laugh out loud moments. And, some real “corny” moments (example would be the pigs). The slow build up of the romance aspect between Samantha and Rex is beautiful. Sam and Abbys friendship added a wonderful dimension to the story along with baby Jack.
Moonlight Over Studland Bay takes your mind off everyday life as you immerse yourself in this light hearted, heartwarming story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dorset and visit often, so I was excited to read a book based in and around Studland Bay.

Sam’s outlook on life changes when her best friend has a baby; she works as a typist and wants more from life. She also has a small side business in her spare time – Purbeck Pooches – and decides to make this her full-time job.

It’s lovely to see Sam and Abby’s friendship shift slightly and develop, and there are also some great characters like Sam’s boss, Rex.

A great read, full of warmth and friendship. Ideal for reading curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine! Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal mad Sam shares her house with her best friend Abby and now Abby's new baby son, Jack. With the arrival of Jack Sam starts to reevaluate her life and realises that she needs to make changes...... should she give up her mundane typing job and expand her Purbeck Pooches business and how does she meet her perfect man?

A lovely warm hearted book with great characters and comedy moments, you take to Sam immediately and are wishing for her happy ending. Perfect book to curl up in front of the fire with

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in a series by Galton, although each is a standalone novel. They all take place in the same general location, and there are cameo appearances by characters from the other novels in this one as well. I listened to the audiobook version, which isn't presently listed on GoodReads. I enjoy the series - they're well-written, light, and cheerful reads. The romance is good but isn't overwhelming and there are numerous other storylines throughout the book. It's also non-explicit romance, which is my preferred style. All around feel-good HEA story!

[Ally Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, feel good read

The enjoyment level of this book depends very much on what you’re looking for. It’s not really a heart-racing, thrilling, fast paced story line. But it’s a lovely, chilled, feel good, happy ever after book, where the characters are likeable and the writing gentle and warm. I recommend reading it as an’ in-betweener’ book when you are looking for something light that is not too brain-taxing!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

This is very unlike many books I read. They are often quite sad and serious. Della has created an enjoyable book that reminded me how reading can be enjoyable and fun, especially as she creates such believable characters. My only irritation was the use of the term 'girlfriend'. I am sure it is often used but not by anyone I know. I just found it grated on me. However, it didn't spoil a very well written book.

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series, at the end of last year, it was also the first time I'd read a book by this author, and I throughly enjoyed it.
This one was equally as good.
From the beautiful setting of the Dorset coast, to the relatable characters, this was such an uplifting read.
If you haven't read a Della Galton book then you really can't go wrong with this particular series.
As ever I would suggest starting at the beginning for maximum enjoyment.

[Sula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this second-hand and picked it up solely because it is set in Studland, a place I love. To be honest the description could be almost any seaside place beyond the names, as it is not particularly atmospheric, but it is interesting seeing how some real-life elements have been adapted and changed for the story. Beyond that it is a fairly run-of-the-mill romantic fiction.