Serena Hunter has left her rockstar husband in Malibu and returned to her hometown of Rabbit’s Leap in England. She’s set up a chocolate shop, which she is proud to call her own. However, her husband, Richie, tracks her down and shows up at her door. She’s ready to celebrate Christmas at home with her parents for the first time in years, but now these plans have to change. His sudden appearance throws her off and she has to figure out if he will fit into her new life.

This was a unique holiday romance. I can’t think of any others that I’ve read where a couple has broken up and the husband tries to reconcile throughout the book. Serena and Richie’s relationship was a little awkward, because she was adamant about not being with him anymore, yet he didn’t know why she left.

I didn’t connect with the characters in this story. They all seemed to make decisions without a reason behind them, and then insist on sticking with it. For example, Serena was set on staying away from Richie, and her mom didn’t approve of Serena’s new business, even though she was glad to have her back home. I found their feelings a little confusing, so I couldn’t connect with the characters.

Even though I had some issues with this story, it definitely left me craving chocolate!

Thank you HQ Digital for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a bid for some pre festive cheer I picked this short read.
It's so lovely that I devoured it in one go more or less.
A romance with a lesson in it.

The chocolate had me salivating too 🍫❤️.

This is a sweet book about love, loss, and second chances. And Christmas and chocolate :). I ended up enjoying it more than I expected - the characters were a little challenging to connect with, but once I spent some time with them I was interested in and rooting for their relationship. I also liked the themes of family and home that were addressed throughout the novel. It's a heartwarming story that would appeal to fans of Jenny Colgan.

Another excellent read from Kellie Hailes. Have loved all these books so far and this one is no different. I loved that we finally got Serena's story. Well written with great characters,

What do you do when you think that your marriage is over? Do you run away? That's what Serena did. Little did she know that even though she told her hot, famous rock star husband, Ritchie Dangerfield not to follow her he eventually does. He still loves her and he also believes that she is his muse. Which matters more - muse or love?

Read this wonderfully entertaining book to find out if they get their HEA or if they part ways to start all over again. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from Kellie. She was a new author for me and I look forward to reading more from her. I highly recommend this book!

Review: I enjoyed Caroline Roberts book about a chocolate shop so I had to try this one although they are both different in regards to writing style. It is a lovely read. This is apart of a trilogy but I found you can read it as a standalone as I did. Another great Christmas read.

A sweet and lovely Christmas story. I really enjoyed it.

Another great book by Kellie Hailes.
The 3rd in a series but you do not need to read the other two to get what's going on. This works as a stand alone book. However, once you read it you will want to read the other two.
I just love Kellie Hailes style of writing. She sucks me in and makes me care so much about the characters. I love books that feel so real that the romantic bits give me a pit in my stomach at time. I smiled and I cried and I devoured this book in one night.

What a sweet book. Sugary sweet and a pleasant cosy read. The characters were very well drawn and I loved the parents and the cows! Although a fairly predictable story it was a pleasure to read at this time of year and would like to read more by this author. Thank you for the copy.

A fun and quick read, but could have been a bit better. Overall I enjoyed the second chance story of the married Serena and Ritchie, however, a lot of waffling on both sides got tiresome after awhile, and the stalker journalist didn't get her comeuppance, which I expected. Other than these minor issues, I would highly recommend this story. A nice feel good story for Christmas.

This book stayed on my TBR list for weeks, so seeing as it was a Christmas novel, I decided to read it over the Christmas week.

The cover is lovely, and the novel is full of twinkling lights, expected snow and an in all it’s a good Christmas romp.

It’s the third in the Rabbits Leap series and I didn’t know this before I read it, and read it as a standalone novel.

This is a nice feel good story, perfect for the festive season. Although its only three stars as I felt some of it lacked any depth for me. The historical child-abuse theme didn’t really go anywhere, her mother was a bit stereotypical battle axe comes good for me and Rabbits Leap was just a bit to quaint for me.

Christmas at the Second Chance Chocolate Shop started out a bit rough for me. I felt like I was dropped into the story and I kept wondering if I was missing something. I haven’t read the other Rabbit's Leap books, but I saw this could be read as a standalone, and yet it took me awhile to acclimate and figure out I wasn’t actually missing anything. Despite that and a few other bumps in the road, I ended up enjoying this story. In fact, by the end I was rooting for Serena and Ritchie. I enjoyed the chocolate aspect and I always love reading about women who follow their passions and dreams. This was a funny, cute story, and I’m glad I added it to my collection of holiday stories for 2017.

Wonderful Christmas story. We're returning to Rabbits Leap and read about Serena and Ritchie, who've been married for ten years, but Serena is no longer happy in this marriage.

I really enjoyed this story and liked returning to Rabbits Leap, seeing how everyone else was getting on.

Nice feel good story. Lovely main character who fitted in well and complimented the book and others in it. Lovely cover on the book. Very well written

Another Hallmark Christmas read, that delighted me and whisked me away to a community with characters who you want to befriend and cheer for.

While I am genuinely happy the ending turned about the way it did, this story felt cluttered and rushed in places, while also lacking something in others. I'm glad I read it, and enjoyed it, but of my Christmas reads, this was not my favorite.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This certainly put me in the mood for Xmas, a really good feel good read

I liked this second chance love story so much.I loved the Christmas atmosphere that will conquest also the most icy soul.

Serena left her husband to find her place in the World.She goes back to her little village and bocomes a chocolatier and she finally feels worthy and happy until her husband,Ritchie, shows up in Rabbit's Leap to win her wife's love back again.

I've really appreciated how the author showed us not only the changing relationship between the main characters but also that between them and some of the support characters.

I have already liked Kellie Hailes' previous works and I can't get enough of the Rabbit's Leap villagers.

This is a story of a rock star couple, I don't know, where they were born, or where they went back too. It's Americanized, and seems like Britain? The basis of the story, for me, as an abused child, is that Ritchie is sweet, loving, and kind. Serena, seems very self centered, spoiled, and immature. This could have been a truly meaningful book, on how child abuse, stays with you, throughout your life. It is like PTSD! Yes, you can overcome it, however, you cannot control the nightmares. That is the main problem in this book, she has no clue, he still gives up everything for her!
Thanks!
carolintallahassee 👒

I absolutely adore romance novels set in the Christmas period and this is one of my favourites so far it really made me feel all warm and cosy inside and made feel that extra bit more festive.

This was a nice, heart-warming story about mistakes and second chances, set in an English village, during the Christmas period.
Although I don’t celebrate Christmas, I enjoy reading this kind of stories once in a while. And this one was simple enough, despite all the difficulties and challenges the author put in the way of the main characters. But it was heart warming in its simplicity and I enjoyed reading it.