Book Review: Game of Scones by Samantha Tonge
Title: Game of Scones
Author: Samantha Tonge
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Published: April 20, 2015 by Carina
A story of icing and flour…and how love doesn’t always go to plan!
Growing up, Pippa Pattinson’s summers were spent in the idyllic Greek island fishing village of Taxos. There she spent many long hazy days determinedly ignoring thoughts of the life her parents had mapped out for her (a dreary-but-secure banking job and obligatory sensible husband!) Instead she daydreamed of running her own tea shop – serving the perfect scones –with mocha-eyed childhood friend Niko by her side…
Arriving back in Taxos for the first time in years, with suave boyfriend Henrik, Pippa barely recognises the tired little town – but is relieved to catch glimpses of the quaint, charming village she’s always loved. Together Niko and Pippa put together a proposal to save Taxos from tourist-tastic ruin, and at the heart of their plan is Pippa’s dream project – The Tastiest Little Tea Shop in Taxos. It’s time for Pippa to leave her London life behind and dust off her scone recipe that’s guaranteed to win over both locals and visitors. And amidst the rolling pins and raisins, it seems romance is blossoming where she’s least expecting it…
If you’re a fan of Lindsey Kelk or Lucy Diamond then don’t hesitate to step into Samantha Tonge’s truly delightful tea shop.
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
My Review
Game of Scones starts off with Pippa Pattinson deciding if she should go with her head or her heart on whether or not to break up with her boyfriend Henrik. To an outsider he might seem like the perfect guy, but she feels like something’s off in their relationship and doesn’t fell fulfilled with him. She goes back to her hometown in Greece with Henrik where she almost immediately runs into Niko, her childhood friend. Things are different now that they’re older and despite Niko being engaged and Pippa being in a committed relationship, Pippa begins to wonder if there’s a spark between them that could lead to something bigger.
The town of Taxos is hit with an unfortunate situation and Pippa steps in to help. I truly admire the way Pippa pulls the town together to try to improve their business by attracting the tourists. Could it be that she’s about to fulfill a life-long dream while helping the town? She has a business savvy mind, but a love for scones and a true passion for the town of Taxos. I found myself rooting for things to work out for Pippa, both in the kitchen and in the matters of her heart. Pippa’s character is relatable and lovable. I admired the way she stood up for the people of Taxos and the close-knit support of the people in the community.
One of the most important themes in this novel is the idea that we can’t be so quick to judge based on how things seem on the surface. Often times you must dig deeper and ask the right questions to seek the truth about the way things are. It’s also incredibly important to look inside yourself and be true to who you are and what you want out of life. The other main theme in the novel was the idea that true love can sometimes be hidden in places you never expected to find it. It left me wondering is there such a thing as true love and soul-mates?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was entertaining, well written and had a little bit of suspense threaded throughout. I loved the way the author tied up all of the loose ends and answered all of the lingering questions I was dying to know while reading the story. Not only was the book fabulous, but I loved the adorable illustrated cover too; just looking at it made me want to go on a tropical vacation! 5 stars for a fabulous romantic novel filled with drama, chaos and intrigue.
Memorable Moments:
My eyes tingled. More supportive than an under-wired bra, how could faultless Henrik not be the ideal man?
Really my suspicions were unfounded – Henrik hid nothing in life, including his One Direction CD and tub of anti-aging cream. So onto the main reason that I’d recently felt he and I fitted together no better than a phone with the wrong charger…
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
About the Author – Samantha Tonge
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Samantha lives in north-west England with her lovely family and two cats who think they are dogs. Along with writing, her days are spent cycling, willing cakes to rise and avoiding housework. A love of fiction developed as a child, when she was known for reading Enid Blyton books in the bath. A desire to write bubbled away in the background whilst she pursued other careers, including a fun stint working at Disneyland Paris. Formally trained as a linguist, Samantha now likes nothing more than holing herself up in the spare room, in front of the keyboard. Writing romantic comedy novels is her passion.
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