This was a cute Christmas story with good romantic chemistry, but I found it to drag and move slowly in several spots.

This was a quick-paced, cozy romance. I liked the characters, but the story wasn't super unique or exciting. It was a decent read, but it's not a book I would go out of my way to recommend.

Such an adorable story that takes place in an inn with a witty woman, her crazy kids, and a very stubborn pup. The love story reminds me of a very cute romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud!!

Eva Harris has her hands full juggling a young son, a disobedient dog and running her thriving seaside guesthouse, so really the last thing she needs is to be distracted by her new neighbour, ridiculously handsome but arrogant Ben Matthews.

For one thing, she’s got nothing in common with the man, Ben’s a high flying lecturer at the town’s university while she barely scraped through high school, for another he’s fresh out of a relationship while Eva hasn’t been on one single date since the death of her husband, seven years ago!

She’s determined to keep her distance, but in a small town like St Andrews that’s easier said than done, and it doesn’t help that everyone, including her son Jamie, think Ben is wonderful! Breaking out of her sad but safe little bubble might be the hardest thing she’s ever had to do, but Ben might just be worth the risk…

What a lovely feel good book,perfect for a snuggle up read this winter. Eva Harris is one busy woman, she runs a guest house,is raising her preeteen son after her husband's accidental death and then there's her new neighbor. She had a great friendship with the older couple residing next door to her but due to health problems they had to move where it was warmer. She really misses them and is glad to see the house next door is occupied once again. Does she really have anything in common with Ben,a high flying lecturer at the town’s university? Neither is looking for a relationship and Ben may not even be looking for a friendship with her despite her trying to be friendly and welcome him to the neighborhood. He has soured on women and she lost her husband to an accident and worries about her son being too adventurous now. A start over is the last thing on either of their minds.Everyone in town seems to think Ben is terrific and like it happens in small towns they seem to run into each other everywhere. As they spend more time together will they allow love to bloom?
A rambunctious new dog Eva get's for her son livens up the story and you'll really enjoy reading this.
Pub Date 08 Nov 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Winter at West Sands Guest House was exactly what it promised to be, and just the kind of book you would want to be snuggled up with in Winter, the romance itself took awhile to get going and the while the story was predictable, still an enjoyable read.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book which I received through Netgalley.
I really liked this story. It's very well written.

Winter at West Sands Guest House is the début novel from Maggie Conway. It has the most beautiful, winter themed cover which makes you wish you could stay in the guest house surrounded by drifts of snow curled up by the fire with a hot chocolate or something that little bit stronger. Set in the Scottish university town of St. Andrews, this story follows the owner of the West Sands guest house single mum, Eva Harris as she adjusts to having a new neighbour next door and all that ensues with the new arrival. Fans of Jules Wake, Phillipa Ashley and Heidi Swain, all of which I am a fan of, will love this simple story of one woman finding happiness when she least expected or desired to. For me this book was a very light, quick read which may have lacked a little substance but none the less it was a pleasant read and showed plenty of potential from the author.

Eva has been single handedly raising her son Jamie ever since the loss of her husband through a tragic accident several years ago. She can be quite neurotic when it comes to the care and welfare of her son going slightly over board with wanting to know his whereabouts and stopping him from doing anything too reckless. I thought initially in this respect Eva was a bit over the top but as her reasons for being this way are revealed, it all made much more sense and I could see why she felt the need to act this way. It's now been seven years since she took over the running of the guest house and she has it exactly the way she wants it catering for holiday makers in the summer, parents of students during graduation season, and then remaining closed during the winter months. Eva is proud that she has rebuilt her life and of all that she has achieved since the death of her husband but one senses she still longs for a bit more for her life. One should always have hopes, dreams and ambitions to strive for.

When we first met Eva she is devastated that long term neighbours and close friends the MacKenzies have sold their house and gone travelling around the world. This older couple had been like surrogate parents to her and viewed Jamie as like a grandchild. Their door was always open and the same could be said for Eva's. Their absence leaves a deep hole in Eva's life. To be honest when I was reading of Eva's upset at having new neighbours arrive I thought she was being ridiculous. Neighbours come and go, it's a regular occurrence and yes we can be fortunate to have neighbours that become good friends but then there are other occasions where we fervently wish said neighbours would sell up quickly. It came across as if Eva couldn't go on without the MacKenzies in her life and I wanted to give her a shake and say for god's sake you are a grown woman and you are getting all maudlin over nothing. She says she doesn't like change but she has seen plenty of this in her life and in reality who doesn't like change but we just have to get on with things and adapt as best we can. I suppose in a way despite the success of the guest house, and the good job Eva is doing raising Jamie on her own, she feels isolated and cut off from her family as her mother Helen views Eva's occupation with disdain and her sister Sarah is too caught up in her job as a lawyer. Maybe the MacKenzies were the people she turned to when she needed help and support.

Eva's apprehension is compounded when she meets new neighbour Ben,who appears not to be the most friendliest of people as he is rude to her on their first encounter but later we discover Ben did think Eva was beautiful. Ben has moved to St. Andrews from London in a bid to escape the cut throat world of a city job that he hates with a passion. It's no fun being in a job you detest yet you have stuck it out so long because the money is good. Finally he has bitten the bullet and has gotten a new job teaching at the university. Unfortunately girlfriend Samantha had other plans and he is now flying solo.

Ben despite his abrupt first encounter with Eva came across as a likeable character, someone who was finally working towards their long held ambition. I could understand his stance that he wanted to maintain a polite front but at the same a strategy of distance was employed. He didn't want to get too deeply involved with anyone considering his recent past with regard to relationships but I wondered would Eva get under Ben's skin and vice versa? Ben remains very focused on his work and neglects the house and this is where Eva comes in. It was almost like an opening for a tentative friendship to ensue. As Eva loves decorating she volunteers to do up some of the rooms in Ben's house. I did think this was a bit strange at first considering their hostile first encounter but I suppose it showed the kind, caring and practical side of Eva coming through.

After the initial flurry of meeting and setting up the story I felt nothing much really happened. I seemed to fly through the pages and reached the last few chapters very quickly without feeling this had been a real exciting, riveting, unpredictable read. I felt we only scratched the surface when it came to really getting to know Ben and Eva. I felt Eva wasn't the most memorable of characters, she seemed to mope and complain a lot .I understand anxiety was forever on her shoulders and with good reason but I just couldn’t really fully warm to her. I wasn't entirely gripped by the story the whole way through and I felt the storyline with her sister Sarah was all too brief and needed much more development, it was almost like a sideline and it needed more prominence. Nothing much happened for some periods and even though I flew through the chapters to reach the final few there wasn't much for me to take on board. There was the little bit of obligatory drama towards the end but it felt stilted and rushed and I think the inclusion of some more characters would have helped shaped the story more and given an outlet for Eva to discuss things with others. The ending was slightly predictable and one readers could see coming a mile off.

Overall Winter at West Sands Guest House was an OK read. It didn't blow me away, I felt slightly disappointed that maybe I had built this book up too much in my head. It was a nice enough story but I felt I had read it all before and it needed something that little bit different to make it stand out from all the rest. Saying that as I have previously mentioned the author has plenty of potential and I would consider trying some more of her work in the future.

Eve Harris is a young widow and has her hands full with her teenage son, over excited dog and running a popular guest house. Her interest is piqued when her new neighbour moves in next door - but she is on high alert and doesn’t need a man as she has managed without since the death of her husband seven years ago.

This was a great wee book and I especially loved that it was set in St Andrews where I have spent many a day trip. The characters were easy to like and the story enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

4☆ A Fun, feel good, Charming Winter Read

Winter at West Sands Guest House is a warm Cosy Charming read, it's a story of new beginnings, coming of age, Humour, Romance, Friendship, and the star of the book Hamish a loveable scamp of a dog.

Eva owns the West Sands Guest House with her 11year old Son Jamie.
Eva is a single parent, after she lost her husband in an accident.

Eva's guest house is closed for the winter giving her time to renovate and do maintenance work.

A new neighbour has moved in next door....

Ben has moved to St Andrews from London to teach at the local Uni.
Eva and Ben don't get off to a good start.
He is rude, cold & unwelcoming to Eva when she makes him soup to welcome him to the neighbourhood.
The next day he apologised only to have Hamish jump up him and muddy all his new clothes lol opps!!!

It's quiet clear early on that Ben has sparked Eva's interest and therefore a potential love match! It was lovely to watch their friendship blossom as their paths keep crossing... fate I wonder!!

Eva is very overprotective of Jamie, at times it's like she smothers his need for independence. Which I do understand why but I was willing her to relax a little!
Eva is a born worrier, which I can sympathise with as I'm the same lol

She doesn't appear to have a great relationship with her mother, as all her mother cares about is social class and money oh and Eva's older Sister Sarah who can literally do no wrong!
Eva comes across as a disappointment to her family.

I really loved her friendship with Heather, both their sons are best friends.
But more importantly Heather is Eva's voice of reason. She helps her anxiety with Jamie. Heather has 3 boys so she is more than prepared to offer Eva advice and support.

One thing I do want to point out is how independent Eva is.
It's so nice to see a female role that can do everything a 'man can'  From fixing boilers, to renovating, to fixing fences etc... I loved that about her! No sexist roles brilliantly thought out!

I enjoyed the friendship and Romance that was created between Eva and Ben. It was somewhat predictable but hey we all love a cosy warm love story!

But for me the best Character by far was Hamish.
He provided me with endless laughter.
The cereal eating, the chickens, jumping up to say hi, getting on the furniture.
I just loved the lil cheeky scamp. Reminded me of my fur baby. He is cheeky too!! Lol

I really did enjoy reading this cosy winter read. Ok so it wasn't exactly brimming with Christmas but it did Have a wintery feel which I always enjoy!
The story flowed well, the characters were well developed and written.
There was humour, romance, friendship, emotions, it was a Charming feel good read that had a nice mix.

It would also be nice to revisit West Sands in the summer!
The fact it's planning to be a dog friendly guest house... oozes so many exciting adventures waiting to be explored!
A Recipe for doggie fun and mischief, any books that feature doggie escapades I'm there!

I'm looking forward to reading more from Maggie.

Eva runs a guest home in rural England and closes for the winter to fix, clean and decorate. She lives there with her son and their dog. Eva has been widowed for many years and she thinks maybe it's time to start living again. The house next to the inn has sold and Ben is a teacher at the local university. A nice, sweet Christmas tale that has you smiling throughout the story.

The death of her husband Paul in an accident left Eva with a four-year-old to raise on her own. To prove to herself and her mother that she can cope, Eva buys a guest house where she hosts a large number of people during the summer and finds a passion for interior design. Seven years later, Eva and son Jamie are doing well, although Eva’s ongoing worries and anxieties about Jamie have turned her into an overprotective mother. Ben has left his glamourous city life to teach at the university and when he first moves next door to Eva and Jamie, she wants to be friendly but he doesn’t seem very interested in her. Soon her charms turn him around and Ben can’t stay away. But will he be able to overcome Eva’s fears about relationships?

Although not completely captivated by the plot or the characters, this is still a charming and heart-warming novel about family, love and second chances. An easy and cosy read to enjoy over the weekend.

I really enjoyed this cute winter story. I liked the setting in Scotland. I could see myself at that house, walking on the beach!

Absolutely loved this story.

Good strong characters with a lovely Wintry feel.

Eva runs a guest house and Ben buys the house next door. Eva has a young son and a misbehaving little dog called Hamish.

Snuggle up on a cold day with a cup of cocoa and read this heartwarming story you will not be sorry

Loved this romance. The book is well written with a great plot and believable characters. I was pulled immediately into the story and could not put it down.

I can not give this book a complete review because I did not finish it. I stopped around the 20% mark. I just found myself not caring about any of the characters or anything that was happening in the story. I wasn't retaining anything that I was reading. Thank you for the chance though.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a lovely warm read .. just perfect for these chilly days! I really enjoyed this book and especially the setting .. St Andrews is a place I visited a lot on day trips in my youth and Maggie Conway gives the town the attention it deserves.

The cover for Winter at West Sands Guest House is absolutely stunning and is ultimately what had persuaded me to give the story a go. However for a tag line that states Christmas romance, it had very little of the real build up to Christmas, and the festive season seemed to be passed over.

I do agree that it was a romance, but although there was plenty of chemistry between Eva and Ben,, it took ages for the characters to realise what the reader clearly new, and the ending was ultimately predictable.

Hamish the puppy was one of the stars of the book, he was adorable and mischievous and no where near trained enough to be running around a guest house. Thankfully it was closed to customers over the winter so there was time to get him trained.

Eva is an overprotective mother to Jamie, she has her reasons but I felt at times a bit like she was a bit too extreme. Ben was hard to get a feel for to start with, but I ended up really liking his character, I just wish I knew more about him.

For a debut book it was ok, and I am certainly curious as to where the author will go next in her writing career, its just that this book didn't fully work for me.

Thank you to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily

What a lovely warm read .. just perfect for these chilly days! I really enjoyed this book and especially the setting .. St Andrews is a place I visited a lot on day trips in my youth and Maggie Conway gives the town the attention it deserves.

Eva bought her guest house when, as a widow with a young son, she needed to invest her cash wisely in a business which let her combine earning money with being there for her child. She was very lucky to have such lovely neighbours in the MacKenzies and was feeling the loss of such good friends when they had to move to a smaller home for health reasons. Her mother and sister have always seemed to pair up nicely and not need her presence in their lives and with the empty house lying next door, she is feeling lonely. It’s not easy being solely responsible for a boy transitioning into manhood.

Ben has given up his high-flying and very lucrative career in the financial industry in London to move to the university town and join academia once more. With the end of his relationship which saw his girlfriend as the only one who had viewed the house, he’s not quite sure what he’s doing in such a large property in the seaside town. With his mind full of his new start in life, he’s rather prickly when he meets Eva for the first time and the meeting leaves them each despairing of their new neighbour.

This is a wonderfully cosy read, with well rounded characters each with their own little foibles. There is plenty going on .. lots of small incidents which all add up to a really heartwarming tale. I think every mother, and especially those of us who have been single parents, will identify with Eva. This is more than just a romance. There are several disfunctional relationships which grab your attention and – as with all good books – every single one gets the attention it deserves during the course of the story. I enjoyed it so much and have no hesitation in recommending it as a great Christmas read.

My thanks to HQ Digital for providing me with an arc copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.