I always love reading this series and this is another beautiful read.

I love exploring the characters that have been previously mentioned in other books and learning more about their life and how they are linked to the village.

Another lovely addition!

Snowflakes over Moon Cottage is book four in the Hope Meadows series by Lucy Daniels. This series is a more grown up version of the Animal Ark series written for children many years ago. It follows the main character from those books Mandy Hope and so far the first three books have been very enjoyable. But I did feel coming towards the end of the last book that the series needed a little change of direction to freshen it up to prevent it from becoming very routine and predictable. A shift to focus on new characters was definitely needed whilst at the same time hopefully it would not lose the essence, sentiment and lovely heart-warming feeling already established so far.

From fairly early on, it was clear to see that this new book brought about these welcome changes as the story centres around a different character Susan Collins and her young son Jack. They had featured more on the periphery in some previous storylines but now a role reversal was occurring as Mandy slips into the background but steps in in a supportive role when needed. We see how Susan is navigating the run up to Christmas whilst balancing rearing Jack and also she has a desire to hopefully find that someone special. If anyone suitable is out there at all?

We have an uncomfortable introduction to Susan who lives in Moon Cottage as we see her out on a date with someone she has met on a dating app. She is left high and dry in the local pub as her date makes an exit. As soon as men hear that she has a son they are gone as fast as possible. Susan is true to herself and she knows her first duty and her loyalties are to Jack. She can't be with someone who won't accept him, they come as a package. She loves Jack with all her heart yet on occasion she thinks back to the time when she was just plain old Susan Collins the young woman with everything in front of her instead of Susan the mother. At times she wishes she could shirk her responsibilities but she knows that cannot happen. I felt at times Susan was very down on herself and her wants and needs sometimes took over the realities of her day to day life. She needed to be a little more realistic when it came to her aspirations and concentrate on the here and now.

After several blows she summons the courage to use the dating app again and meets Douglas McLeod who is the children's illustrator who spoke to her class at the nursery she works in. She instantly judges Douglas on appearances and how he interacted with the children believing this persona he has transpires to all aspects of his life. Douglas is clumsy, quirky and ungainly yet at the same beneath this exterior he is kind and caring and has a heart of gold. But can Susan see through this persona to the real Douglas? I thought Susan was almost embarrassed to be seen with Douglas as he is not the type of man she would usually go for. I think she thought he would make her a laughing stock and people would be talking about them. She seemed very judgemental almost like the men who judged her when she revealed she had a son. She should have been more understanding and not taken Douglas at face value nor should she have formed instant opinions. Instead she should have gotten to know him better, not brushing him off or making excuses not to meet. She backed herself into quite some corners and they were all of her own making. I felt she was being hurtful and mean and Jack even was attempting to develop a nice friendship with Douglas through their love of illustrations and children's books. Couldn't Susan have been a bit more willing to see what path could be taken.

What throws a spanner in the works even more is when a stranger arrives in Welford asking for Susan. As she discovers who it is, her entire world and thought process is thrown into disarray. Jack's father Michael is back on the scene. Susan had built a wonderful life without him and now her security and contentment and her relationship with Jack is called into question. Will she be swayed by promises and hopes for the future or will she dig a little deeper and follow what her heart is trying to tell her? I could tell immediately that Michael was someone who was privileged and led a life so very different from that of Susan and Jack. That he was oblivious to the day to day rearing of a child and as for a family unit he had no idea of how to establish a solid foundation let alone maintain one. I felt a real impending sense of doom once Michael reappeared on the scene where one false move could upset everything. Susan becomes embroiled in a complicated situation and the reader can see her mind going back and forth. She is caught up in a dream of what could have been instead of focusing on the realities and the practicalities of the here and now.

I really enjoyed how the story developed overall as there were lots of twists and turns and I genuinely never knew how things were going to turn out. Susan needed to make some firm decisions. Was she going to let someone into the unit and bond she had established with Jack? Was she willing to become more assertive in her own needs and become happy in her heart knowing she id doing the right thing for the right reason? Will she pick the one this reader certainly wanted her to be with? She needed to find some courage and conviction to follow the right path taking all people into consideration. She desperately needed to start going for what she wants instead of hoping and waiting. Things had come to a head and as Christmas approached this was the time to turn lots of negatives into positives.

Of course being a Hope Meadows book there had to be some mention of animals and the scene with the cows was intense and scary. This was nicely balanced with some of the animals rescued by Mandy and being cared for her in her new centre before hopefully being adopted. The storyline with the kittens was sentimental and heart warming. Mandy didn't feature too heavily and I was glad because I felt we needed a break from her character. She was beginning to irritate me slightly in that she never fully happy and always finding something that was upsetting her or that she wasn't always fully contented in her relationship. I'm sure we'll return again to her in future books but for now I am more than happy to see what other new characters will be given the opportunity to tell their story.

All in all, Snowflakes over Moon Cottage was a really good read which breathed new life into the series and it has made me excited about it once again. The storyline felt that little bit more meatier but yet the warmth and feel good factor was still there in abundance. I still have to catch up with Summer Days at Sunrise Farm before the new Christmas book Christmas at Silverdale is published but I am looking forward to doing so.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

Completely charming and captivating. Perfect for the festive period. Really fun to read and would recommend to others

After several years of being single, having been busy raising her son Jack, Susan begins internet dating. After several disasters, she meets the exciting and lively Douglas. Susan and Douglas start to get on really well, but then Jack’s dad appears, bringing complications and mixed emotions.

This was a lovely, heart-warming Christmas story. The characters are interesting with quirky personalities and great chemistry. The characters and setting of the story are well-established from previous books. I hadn’t read any of the previous books, but that didn’t stop me enjoying the cast of characters from the quaint village of Welford. Animals play a big role in the story, Susan’s best friend Mandy being a vet, and little Jack’s love of animals is very sweet. I am an animal lover and must admit I’m hypersensitive when it comes to certain scenes with animals, so I found a couple of sections a little upsetting. These did added to the drama and character-development but I probably wouldn’t seek out more books with this setting.

One thing that did let the story down was the over-use of short sentences. It got quite distracting and spoilt the flow of the story quite a few times.

Overall, it’s a lovely romantic story about family, friendship and trust. Douglas is a wonderful character and his dates with Susan were lovely to read about.

A nice, cosy read.

I really enjoyed this instalment of this series. It was nice to have a fresh point of view of village life from a new protagonist. Although, the old favourite characters still featured heavily, this story centred around Susan and her search for love.
It was really interesting to learn more about Susan and Jack's back story , as they have been in all 3 previous books.
Douglas was a delightful character, he positively bounced off of the page with his bubbliness!
I'm really hoping there'll be more from this series soon!

This series is so lovely- you feel as though you are meeting familiar friends and sitting down to chat.
Susan is a teacher with a young son Jack. He loves visiting Hope Meadows and has an affinity with the animals. She agrees to go on a date with someone on the internet and on first glance she doesn't think that Douggie is a match for her. He is a children's illustrator and I loved the bit where he reads to the children He is such a sweetheart with a heart of gold- but we aren't sure whether that little spark of romance is going to ignite.

They are wonderful characters and the animals add such a depth to the stories . I can imagine spending time with the animals at the rescue centre and wanting to adopt them all.

Animals, children and romance all make this story a perfect festive book. If you haven't read any other books in the series, like me, don't be put off, it's a great standalone read.

Single mum Susan has had enough of dating sites and nearly doesn't accept her latest date who definitely isn't her type. I love that Douglas is more like a Christmas elf than Prince Charming, but he has a good heart and cares for Susan and Jack and really that's all that matters.  I disliked Michael from the beginning, weak and self- serving, you really want Susan to see through his false charm and looks.

Full of nativity plays, comical children's' behaviour and lovable rescue animals, this story is heartwarming with a sparkling romance that demonstrates the joy and poignancy of the festive period.

I received a copy of this book from Hodder&Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Snowflakes over Moon Cottage was a great book I enjoyed it so much that I struggled to put it down. A great festive book that left me feeling Christmassy.

Beautifully written, magical book! If you're a fan of Hallmark movies and Christmas romance, this is the book for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderful magical book!! Before I knew it I had finished this story and felt like all the characters were real and friends of mine.

Susan is bringing up her son Jack on her own and has had has had some disastrous dates from a dating site. When Douglas comes through as a match he is not her usual type of man and as the saying goes “Don’t judge a person by their appearance. Looks can be deceiving” I loved Douglas’s caring personality and was pleased they went out on a date.

This book was like putting on you’re favourite fluffy pyjamas on a cold evenin ,it was warm, comforting and definitely had the feel good factor.

I haven’t read the other books in this series. I know, SERIOUSLY!! I feel like I’ve missed out but will soon rectify that.

A must read book, my advice is to get yourself a hot chocolate and cosy down on the sofa as you won’t want to move until you’ve finished this !!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Really great read. It takes you on a really great journey of different emotions. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

With thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Staughton for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Snowflakes over Moon Cottage Cottage is the fourth book in the Hope Meadows series. This book is about another resident of Welford, single mum Susan and her son three year old Jack.

Susan had been looking for love on the internet but every man she liked ran when they heard about Jack. Susan had given up hope until she saw a profile for children's author Douglas Mccleod. When Douglas came to her nursery to the visit she kids she thought he was a loud buffoon. However Jack and the other children loved Douglas and his brilliant stories.

After some matchmaking from her best friend and local vet Mandy Hope, Susan saw a quieter side of Douglas when he sketched the rescue animals at Mandy`s rescue home Hope Meadow. On their first date Douglas gave Susan a gift of smelly camembert cheese and took her climbing but she had the time of her life. When Douglas found out that Susan was decorating Jack`s bedroom he painted a mural on the wall,

However her budding romance was thwarted when her ex and Jacks`s Dad Michael Chalk arrived back on the scene. Michael had left Susan when she became pregnant with Jack, his name was not on the birth certificate and had never met Jack. After Michael`s father died he explained he wanted to be a real dad to Jack. Despite her better judgement Susan was still attracted to Michael, however she also liked Douglas who was so unlike Michael. With the festive season approaching Susan had to decide which man to choose for her and Sam.

Ahh I love this series so much. Although the story was about Susan and Jack I was glad to read about Vet Mandy Hope and her rescue animals. Again the authors veterinary skills came into play when Mandy asked Jack to help her perform a hearing test on a deaf kitten. I shed a tear after the death of Coffee the dog who died peacefully of cancer.

I had a soft spot for Douglas who was both childlike but strong minded at the same time. I enjoyed the scene where Douglas and Susan herded some sheep away from a flooded field on horseback. I also loved the description of the Christmas party held in an old milking shed Douglas and Susan went too.

I enjoyed the nativity at the end of the book and shed a little tear when Jack received a surprise gift from Mandy. If this is the first book you have read in the series it can be easily read as a standalone. I highly recommend this series.

Thanks Netgalley and the Author. Did not realise that this was the 4th in the series but I still really liked it (obviously Susan has the same name as me). Would recommend this book to others.

This is a first for me by this author but won't be my last.

I didn't realise this was book four in the series, but enjoyed it none-the-less and will be looking for the previous books in the series.

Susan Collins is a single mum to four year old Jack, a teacher to a classroom full of nursery children.
She decides this Christmas is going to be about quality time with family, especially her young son Jack.
After a string of bad dates she's given up on love... well, that is until she meets a handsome children's author by the name of Douglas Macleod.

Douglas Macleod might not be Susan's usual type with his dishevelled appearance and bright red hair, but there's an undeniable spark between them.
Michael Chalk is Susan's ex and Jack's father who turns up on the scene wanting Jack (and Susan back).

Susan soon finds herself torn between the two men, but, with the class of schoolchildren she teaches making regular trips to local animal rescue centre Hope Meadows, Susan's certainly got plenty to keep her busy, especially as it's also Jacks favourite place to be.

So who will Susan and Jack be choosing to spend Christmas at Moon Cottage with this year?

The book is set at Christmas, and focuses on how difficult it can be with broken and blended families, and how to try and keep everyone happy... A feeling I know only too well.

A heart-warming romance with lots of cute animals at Christmas-time... what more could you ask for?

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.

I don't think the smile left me face at all while I was reading this latest book in this fabulous series. It was so ridiculously enjoyable that the pages were flying past, and I never wanted to put it down. This is possibly the most absorbed I've been in a book for a while, so for that I can only commend the author.

Initially I was a bit surprised that Mandy Hope wasn't the main character this time, but instead its her best friend Susan, with her four year old Jack. We have met them a lot over the past three books, so good to really get know them a lot better better in this installment.

Just because our favourite vet isn't the focus of the book doesn't mean there aren't plenty of animals. We ge to see a lot of Hope Meadows, as Jack loves spending time there, and also Susan too the nursery children on some trips there to see the animals.

There is one rather special animal, that I became utterly besotted with, and there were a couple that I did guess slightly ahead of the book where there forever homes would be. The animals literally stole my heart yet again, and there were references to the previous books in the series. Although I would reasonably safely say this one could easily be read as a standalone as we didn't know anywhere near as much about Susan before.

Throughout the book there are many moments that will either have you gasping, or "awwwwwing" as they occur, or generally just have you grinning.

Of the two men in this book who are both interested in Susan, there was one that I warmed to instantly and I spent most of the book hoping that they would get together. He is a wonderful man, and knows how to talk to children and generally had a fab personality.

I adored every single second I spent reading this wonderful book, and can't wait until May for the next book in this fabulous, feel good series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is a feel-good Christmas novel at it's finest! I've read previous novels by Lucy Daniels before and had really enjoyed them and this one was no different. It was set in a beautiful sounding location and was so festive and heart-warming throughout the novel, which kept me entertained and wanting to read more.

I fully connected with the characters and found that I just could not put this novel down! Would 100% recommend you giving this novel a read if you want to feel festive! Thank you for this copy

Fantastic, feel good, christmassy read!

Having read and loved the other books in this series which focused on a different main character, Mandy, I was worried this book wouldn't feel the same. However, this book evokes the same atmosphere and is a refreshing extension to the series.

I'd recommend this as a wonderful and relaxing romantic escape - with lots of added animal supporting characters!

Another brilliant instalment from Lucy Daniels. It is a dream to go back to my childhood.
Full review to follow.

I received an early preview of this book from Netgalley.
I am too old to have read the Animal Ark series of books, but I have read the adult books. This is book four in the Hope meadows series.
This book focuses on Susan, the Best Friend of vet Mandy, and her developing relationship with children's author Douglas, which is under threat from the sudden reappearance of her son Jack's Father.
The book is set at Christmas, and focuses on how difficult it can be at Christmas with broken and blended families, and how to try and keep everyone happy.
There are lots of animal tales which are heartwarming, and lovely to read about. This makes the book distinctive.The new Character Douglas brings humour to the story. It was great to read about life at Hope Meadows from the perspective of Susan, rather than Mandy and her family, although they do feature in the book a lot. I would like to read more about other Hope Meadows characters and their stories. This book had a more mature feel to it than the earlier Hope Meadows books. This suited the book very well.
The Hope Meadows books are a lovely warming read. The location is wonderful, and this book, set at Christmas time made the village feel more cosy and friendly.
This book is a lovely festive read.