Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

This is a beautifully written lovely cosy Christmas read which I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed the author's lovely warm style of writing. The story was written from two perspectives which I really loved. It is a story of love, loss, secrets, family and new beginnings with plenty of twists and turns along the way. I liked the main characters and quickly became engrossed in their stories. There was a twist halfway through the book which took me by surprise.

Heart warming and touching book - perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

There are a bunch of Christmas stories published every year some are good some are just ok or run of the mill with nothing that makes them stand out or differentiates them from all the rest of the Christmas stories. This one is different and is easily my favorite Christmas story this year.
Heartwarming and and easily believable book that you could see your neighbors experiencing. After the death of her husband Elana James is a grieving widow with a young daughter. At the time of her husband's death work was not complete on the cottage she bought with her husband,Bay Tree Cottage. As she saves up the money she piece by piece gets the repairs done on her cottage. Luke works for his dad's construction company and agrees to do work for her at off peak times and charge her a cheaper price than the going rate. He's just happy to have the work since he's paying child support for his young little boy, Joey he has. Elana is happy to have Luke doing the work for her even at unconventional hours like dinner time and in the evening. She makes him dinner a lot of evenings while he's working then they go into her sitting room and discuss house repair plans. She is very professional about this and there is no hint of a romance brewing at all. Luke starts thinking he just may need Elana in his life in a romantic way but is afraid to show her that as she may not think the timing is right. Elana's daughter, really needs Luke to finish the chimney work before Christmas so her her oh so important letters can get to Santa. Smart,capable and good looking Luke delivers too. No little girl being disappointed in this story! Bring in the fact that Elana is 10 years older than Luke and has more worldly experience you can see where her hesitation to start a romance stems from after all this woman is no cougar. The heart doesn't always hear what the head is thinking though!
Wonderful feel good book.
Pub Date 27 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperImpulse for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas at a cottage in the countryside sounds idyllic, but Elana has lost her soulmate and is left to be both mum and dad to the little girl who is her reason for breathing. Having a happy Christmas and living life to the full is so much harder for her this year, the second since Niall was taken from her. Luke has lost his family too but this time because his wife wanted more than he could give. He blames himself, and it seems fate agrees as circumstances conspire against him, ensuring he only sees his little son once a week.
Elana's cottage still needs a great deal of renovation, when her parents give her a helping hand builder, Luke is the man for the job, but suddenly his presence threatens her self-imposed celibacy and makes her wish for things she thought she never would again.
The story is charming full of humour and poignant moments as Elana and Luke discover kindred spirits and try to make their children's Christmas magical and memorable. Maya and Joe, the children in the story, are insightful portrayals.
The plot is surprising, and not everyone or their lives is as it first seems. It captures the essence of Christmas believably and contains just enough magic to have you believing in Santa.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I can’t believe it took me so long to discover Linn B Halton’s gorgeous writing, but now that I have I’ll make sure I never miss one again. If you’re looking for a gorgeous Christmas read, you really won’t want to miss this one.

This was one of those books where the characters won my heart from the opening pages, and made me really care about them. Many of you will be aware of my occasional aversion to children in books, but I would have perfectly happily cuddled both Elana's daughter Alexa and Luke's little son Joe. Mind you, I'd have been fairly happy to cuddle Luke too - what a lovely guy! And what's a little unusual about this book is that we hear Luke's voice and perspective every bit as clearly as we hear that of Elana, and if there were ever two damaged people who more deserved to find a happy ending, I haven't come across them yet.

All the relationships in this book are just so beautifully drawn - mother/daughter for Elana and Alexa, father/son for Luke and Joe, the warmth and intensity of every contact between Luke and Elana, but all the wider ones too with the extended family, friends, love interests, and slightly difficult neighbours. The author's flair for interiors comes into play in the renovation of Bay Tree Cottage - I'm looking for red fairy lights now to put among my logs, and nervously tapping my plaster - and there's even a little touch of her familiar magic which brought a little tear to my eye. Heavens above, there's even a kitten!

I loved this book - and should you have space on your Christmas reading list, I'd highly recommend it to all.

I really enjoyed this book. Excellent storyline and great main characters. I would recommend this book.

Perfect Christmas Read. A widow has a house to renovate and meets construction guy. Classic love story, younger guy, good looking, great with daughter. Makes you feel great.

Elana is struggling with the renovations at Bay Tree Cottage since her beloved husband Niall died and although the mortgage has been paid off she still needs to find the money to have the work done.... and being a single mother that is not easy. This will be her second Christmas without Niall and it is not getting any easier but for the sake of their daughter Maya she had to make the effort..... and get the chimney sorted out for Father Christmas!

Luke is a builder and since the breakup of his marriage he is lonely and desperately missing his son Joe so he is happy to help out Elana with some building work...... but could it become more than friendship or is it too soon and is the age gap too big a problem?

Another lovely book by this author, I have loved all her books and this one certainly doesn't disappoint... Great characters and settings and I couldn't put it down till I had finished it.

Having read the previous book I was so excited to read Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage, straight away I was drawn in and loved everything about the book, the amazing storyline, the lovely characters and most of all the cosy cottage, Christmassy feel to the story, I was so not disappointed, it was a lovely, delightful read.

Such a heartfelt story, full of deeper feelings and some absolutely beautiful moments, some of which will make you smile and others feel quite emotional.

This is not your typical light fluffy Christmas book to get you feeling in a festive mood. What it is, is a fabulous story that gives you hope, it features two main characters each with similarities but also at times feel like a world apart from each other.

There is Elana, single mother to Maya, and they are about to face their second Christmas since Niall died, Maya is convinced she still talks to her father and just wants the renovations on Bay Tree Cottage to be finished so that she can send her santa letters up the chimney for some Christmas magic.

Luke is the builder working on the cottage, he is a bit younger than Elana, and just wants to spend more time with his young son Joe. They are both lonely but whether anything will ever happen between them, is what in part keeps you reading throughout.

The story is told from both Luke and Elana's perspectives and there is a lot to learn about both of them. I couldn't help but feel a lot of sympathy for both characters, while their children were fabulous. Maya is a fabulous character and seems a lot older than her 6 years would suggest in some of what she says.

I loved seeing Bay Tree Cottage change in front of my eyes from a cottage in need of renovation, to a proper family home, which marks with it the personal journey that Elana is on too, in seeing whether she is finally ready to move on with her life.

This is a fabulous story and one that I would happily recommend.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is my first read of Linn B Halton's writing and it most certainly won't be the last. I have found myself completely immersed in it and shall most certainly be adding this author to my list of ones to watch.

Elana is facing her second Christmas alone with her young daughter after her beloved husband, Niall, died in an accident. Despite her expectations that this year will be easier, she is actually finding it more stressful than the previous one and is desperately in need of a friend. Living in a ongoing renovation project which has stuttered to a halt due to lack of funds, she works from home to take care of Maya and has dreams of seeing the work finished - one day.

Luke, through no fault of his own, has found himself a part time father to his young son and far from embracing the single life he just wants to be a good father and prioritises his well-being over and above everything else. He has left a career in IT to help his father with his building business and desperately tries to earn as much as he can to support himself as well as his estranged wife and child. His workmates don't understand him, his parents are supportive but he, too, need a friend who understand the situation he finds himself in.

Elena and Luke's paths cross and slowly but surely they find a level of contact which enriches both their lives, just by the fact that they both understand how the other is feeling. Luke is mature beyond his years but still only in his early twenties while Elena has ten more years on him but where pain and memories are concerned, they are on a level footing and relax into an easy friendship where they are able to confide in each other things which, until now, have just circled round inside their own heads.

I found myself surprised by this one .. not your usual fun, sparkly Christmas read but a novel written with real empathy which exudes an inner strength to the characters. The words flow freely and before you know it, you are invested in the lives of both Elena and Luke. But there is more to this book than just them - there is a magical quality which can only come with a Christmas setting, and this is one of most enjoyable novels set at that time of year which I have come across. If you are looking for a family based Christmas read which will leave you with a festive glow then this is the one and I'm more than happy to fully recommend it.

My grateful thanks to Harper Impulse and NetGalley for the arc of this novel which I received in exchange for my honest, original and unbiased review.

- Fate takes you where you need to be when the time is right -

Elana lives with her daughter Maya in Bay Tree Cottage. Their house is still not finished and Elana doesn’t have the money to hire professional help. Elana started renovating the cottage together with her husband Niall, but a tragic accident ended their dream. Elana is working hard as an editor to have some extra income. She wants this Christmas to be magical for her and Maya. When the chimney needs immediate repairs she has to take action. Her next door neighbors hired a professional company and they can also do the work on Bay Tree Cottage. Will, despite these issues, Christmas be the wonderful time Elana and Maya need so much?

Luke set aside his own dream to work at the family business. His father can no longer do everything by himself. This choice cost him his relationship with Anita. Now he can only see his son Joe on Saturdays. Luke wished for another outcome, but he accepts the situation as it is. When Luke starts renovations at Bay Tree cottage he can’t help but be enchanted by the beautiful woman who lives there together with her lovely daughter. Can he fix everything that needs to be fixed in time for Christmas?

Elana is incredibly strong, trying to cope as well as she can after the death of her husband. She’s putting up a brave front for her parents and friends, but her nights are lonely. She needs to be efficient with money and I admired her for doing this so well. Niall was the love of her life and after he was suddenly taken from her she had to reinvent herself. It is hard having to face everything alone and I had a lot of respect for how she deals with what life brings her and liked her from the start. She’s good at her job and she’s competent in getting all the information she needs. I wished for her to have the courage the let go of the past and to look ahead and wanted her to find the happiness that she and Maya truly deserve.

Luke is such a kind and caring man. Even though his ex-girlfriend broke his heart he still remembers what’s most important, their son Joe. He does what needs to be done and he’s a great father and son. I loved the warm bond he has with his parents and how he turns to his mother for advice. Luke is also really sweet to Maya. He understands that children will always come first. Luke is a man every woman would love to have by her side and I certainly enjoyed reading about him.

Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage is an amazing story about learning to love again and to believe in magic. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I always love to read stories about this enchanting holiday. Linn B. Halton managed to give her characters plenty of depth. Elana and Luke felt so real to me that it was like I was watching a movie and I immediately connected with them. Linn B. Halton’s stories are very special to me and I think with Christmas at Bay Tree Cottage she has written another brilliant novel that truly warmed my heart.

Such a lovely novel. The cover was gorgeous too. The place, the characters all found a way into my heart very quickly. Its the perfect read for over the festive season

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy of this book. A cosy tale of love and loss, set in the build up to Christmas. A good seasonal read,

I can't believe I have read my second Christmas book already and what a treat this one was! I've read some of Linn Halton's other books and this one didn't disappoint.

We are introduced to Elana who sadly lost her husband Niall the previous year and their young daughter Maya. Elana and Niall's dream was to restore their cottage to its former glory - since Niall's death Elana just can't summon the energy to carry on with this and is living in limbo not sure how to move forward.

Luke is the builder who comes into Elana's life and helps her see there is life after a bereavement, whilst also helping with Elena and Maya's dream of completing the Bay Tree Cottage in time for Christmas.

The story is split into the different perspectives of Luke and Elana which I thought was a really good idea. It wasn't all one sided and Luke brought his own issues to the story. They were both broken and tentative about moving on.

It wasn't a straightforward story and I think this stopped it from being your run of the mill Christmas romance.

I found this a lovely story and had a lump in my throat at the end - I would highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an absolutely beautiful story about love, family and second chances.
Intricately woven and captivating.
I was engrossed right through to the end. Lovely, warm and wonderful.

A well written moving story.
I liked how the chapters were written from both the point of view of Luke and Elana, both likable characters who you hope have a happy ending.

I'm sorry this book just wasn't for me I didn't really connect with the characters

It was supposed to be the best Christmas of her life, but after losing her husband unexpectedly, Elena can barely find the strength to get out of bed, let alone tackle the renovations on her cottage. Still, she has her daughter to think of, so Elena calls in Luke Stevenson to help complete the cottage redo. He’s good at his job, like Elena’s daughter and he’s easy on the eyes to boot. Still, does she dare trust her heart to another man? A man ten years younger to boot? A sweet and satisfying story of love and second chances