‘39-year-old Glanna Pascoe - also known as 'the Rainbow Painter' - runs the Hartmouth Gallery in Ferry Lane Market in Cornwall. She is just getting her head and broken heart around being single, childless, and sober when Cupid flies in, shooting arrows all over the place.
Meeting the mysterious and fascinating Isaac Benson, famous local artist, and recluse, allows Glanna's disillusioned heart and attitude to soften, and she begins to learn more about herself than she ever thought possible. Confused by her growing feelings for Isaac, Glanna throws herself into organising a life-drawing class at her gallery, using both male and female nudes - and setting local tongues wagging.
A theft from her gallery and the return of ex-love Oliver Trueman cause Glanna to wonder if a pot of gold will be appearing at the end of her rainbow. And will it bring her the happiness, she has sought for so long?’ (Courtesy of Amazon UK.)
This is book three of Nicola May’s ‘Ferry Lane Market’ series although the first one I’d personally read. Whilst you get the sense that some of the characters with minor parts in this novel have more of a backstory in the previous novels, it very much can be read as a stand-alone novel.
I loved Glanna as the main character. I loved that she wasn’t flawless, and it was refreshing to read a light-hearted novel with a character that has a past and talks openly about it, she could even be a bit crude at times but never too much that it bothered me. Glanna is someone who knows herself, recognises her past and how it shapes her present and she was all the greater for spending time with as a reader as a result.
I enjoyed her meeting and getting to know the reclusive local artist Isaac. They have a lovely bond and relationship, and it was lovely to see that develop; they come into each other’s lives at the right time. I also loved Oliver, and I perhaps would have liked him to have a bigger in-person part earlier on in the novel, as the elements with him felt a tad rushed and I wanted more after waiting so long!
Glanna’s relationship with her parents is also complicated at times but so strongly written. There’s warmth, humour, disappointment, frustration, embarrassment and lots of love between all of them, and to be honest this was one of my favourite aspects of the story. This love surpassed the ‘love interest’ element of the story for me.
I felt the sense of place was strong, and the novel had a real community feel to it with the wide range of characters you’d expect to meet in a small place. There were lots of comical moments!
This was a great read and I’ll be making sure I read the other novels in the series soon to find out more about the characters we met here.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.
Praise for Nicola May!
'This book will twang your funny bone & your heartstrings' - Milly Johnson
'A fun and flighty read' - Sun
'A funny and fast-paced romp - thoroughly enjoyable!' WOMAN Magazine
'One of those books that I can't stop thinking about way after I've read it! - Kim The Bookworm
'This book is so addictive that you will literally lose 3 hours of your life, and you won't care!' - Cara's Book Boudoir
Readers love Nicola May, too!
'A FABULOUS must-read' - 5 STARS
'An excellent book of friendship - with a little wickedness!' - 5 STARS
'Good for the soul' - 5 STARS
'I loved it and devoured it in a matter of days' - 5 STARS
'A wonderful, feel-good novel with some grit thrown in' - 5 STARS
'Marvellous, beautiful and heart-warming' - 5 STARS
'Sea, sand and sex - a soppy delight' - 5 STARS
'A truly lovely book' - 5 STARS
'Fun and whimsy, plus a dog!' - 5 STARS
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