Member Reviews
Lovely festive read. I didn’t realise until I started reading that it was part of a series but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Libby has always worked in his father’s chipper and she plans to transform it into a tea shop, one day. Little she knows that her father has already sold the place to Owen, a Londoner who’s also interested in Lavender Bay because he’s looking for his mother, whom he’s never met. When Libby and Owen start dating, there are a lot of secrets between them, but time and patience will bring them all to the light.
I enjoyed this book, although I expected it to be more festive. It’s not really a winter read. This has been happening to me quite a lot: I expect something specific from the book because of the way it was marketed, and then I’m quite disappointed when I see that the book is actually much different. Also, I didn’t particularly liked Owen as a character and their love story kind of left me indifferent. The writing was good, but I would have preferred if the book were cosier, more heartwarming and festive.
Warm and cosy read, perfect to get you into the Christmas spirit! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Third installment of the Lavender Bay series following the third of the friends. I didn't enjoy this one as much, seemed Sarah ran out of ideas for this book. 30-40% of the first part of the book was a rerun of the ending of the last book, but told by Libby so I skim read most of that. I figured her and Owen would fall out over him buying the chip shop. This one didn't grip me as much as the others but a good ending to the series. I look forward to Sarah's next one. Thank you for accepting my request for a review.
Having not read the first two books in the series, I did feel a little lost at times in this book. Unfortunately that did affect my enjoyment of the book somewhat and I struggled to get into it.
I have immensely enjoyed reading this book. Its well written. Will definitely recommend. I am glad I was given access to this arc.
I absolutely loved this book. Not my first Sarah Bennett read and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I love the series of characters and how each book delves into the life of a different character in more detail. And what wasn't to love about Owen? I loved the friendships and the twists and the obstacles. And I wanted Libby to meet her match as well as her soul mate. She's not as tough a nut as she makes out. Bring on the next one.
DNF
I had a hard time getting into this book, so I will not be reviewing this title at the moment. Thank you for the opportunity to read the title early.
This is the third and last book in the "Lavender Bay" series. I recommend reading the others as each one is about best friends and very enjoyable .
I can't believe that's it, the last book to the 3 part series. I so didn't want it to end as I have thoroughly loved my visits to Lavender Bay in the Spring, the Summer & now this last one. I am going to miss all of the characters so darn much, as I just feel so close to them all.
I have completely lost myself in the story, which was so very well written and I have enjoyed every single page. It's impossible to have a favourite part as there are just too darn many lol.
If you haven't discovered Sarah's books yet, don't delay anymore, as they are truly delightful. I literally can't wait to read her other series.
Libby has always lived in Lavender Bay and worked in her father's fish and chip shop, but she has plans for it, she wants to make it into a lovely little tea shop....... she just hasn't told her father yet! Then Owen comes into town and Libby totally falls for him...... but what are his real motives for being there and how will that affect Libby and her plans?
Great to be back in Lavender Bay and catch up with Libby, Beth and Eliza, as always a great heartwarming story but sad that the trilogy is now at an end!
I haven't read any of the other two books in this series, but I figure that Libby has already been a character in them. I don't know if Owen has showed up previously, and if so - did he and Libby know each other already before their first (?) meeting in the pub that the book opens with? I just found it a bit irritating how fast their relationship progresses in the beginning. For me it felt like from 0 to 180.
But they seem very cute together as a couple, although there isn't so much happening with them together. Fun outings, real dates, or anything. Owen gets integrated into the group of Libby's friends nevertheless quite well, and it was fun to read about all of them, but I didn't particularly bond with Libby and Owen so much. I didn't feel involved emotionally, only at the very end (the letters to K.B.) I was a bit touched.
I would have liked to read a bit more about Owens quest to find his birth mother or other relatives in Lavender Bay, that comes rather short at the end. Also considering that this book is the end of the trilogy and there will be no follow-up.
The cover and title suggests this to be a novel set in winter, but actually the story starts in summer and then progresses until Christmas (with a Christmas market that is described rather nicely). So you could read this book any time of the year really.
The last in the trilogy, but it was everything it promised to be and more. I could not put the book down as the story of Libby and Owen unfolds. The path of love is never easy but the characters don’t give up without a fight. Even though I wanted to scream at them at times I laughed and cried many times throughout the book. Sarah Bennett never disappoints.
This is a light-hearted romance,chill read I'd say, I'm so glad in the end everything is sorted out and everyone have a happy ending so YAY! the story flows naturally and does not feel boring at all and the storyline is gripping enough to make you keep wanting to read on , to know what happens next. definitely recommend!
This is my first read for Lavender Bay. Now, I have to go back, and read the rest of the series. Such a pleasant surprise! I loved the characters. The story held my attention. It's a great read! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Opening this book felt like meeting up again with some old friends. The characters have been so well established that I enjoyed seeing their own individual traits and seeing what they were up to. Owen turned out to have a lot to offer the story with a complicated backstory which really fed into his thoughts and actions. You always felt that he was acting true to himself.
Once more, we have a real celebration of friendship as shown between the three girls, Beth, Libby and Eliza as well as the other inhabitants of Lavender Bay. It is a lovely place to escape to and as Christmas gets ever nearer in the story, it sparkles. I loved the descriptions of the events in Lavender Bay which feels like such a community. It turned out to be a satisfying end to the trilogy and a real festive read.
In short: The road to romance turns out to be a little rocky.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book.
A really great christmas read, i really enjoyed it. Libby wants to turn her dads chippy into a tea shop, and meets a handsome man called Owen who has designs on the building for his own purposes.
A good read, really enjoyed it, not a typical christmas romance.
Well, the synopsis says it all - this truly is a delightful contemporary festive romance and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Set in the small community of Lavender Bay, it has Owen Coburn visiting in the hope of discovering more about his mother after obtaining a copy of his birth certificate. He grew up in care after being abandoned as a baby and had a difficult hildhood. Despite this, he has made a success of his life, starting and growing his own construction business, but he still feeds the need to discover more about his mother. Whilst visiting for the first time he meets a young lady he likens to a pixie. She’s Libby Stone and their initial interaction is anything but friendly! That, however, changes as the attraction between the two grows. Unfortunately, Libby’s Dad has plans she is unaware of that involve Owen.....will secrets bring the two together or drive them apart? As the group of friends and the community work together can Owen discover what it is like to belong, at last? Will they discover more about his mother and why she abandoned him?
This is a delightful festive read set in a close knit seaside community with fantastic characters, festive events and plenty of angst, turmoil and secrets that could easily wreck even the most carefully thought out plans. It is a heartwarming story that I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending- I loved reading it!
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. I chose to read it and this is my honest review after doing so.
I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for sending me a copy =]
‘Delightfully romantic and touching.’ Phillipa Ashley on Sunrise at Butterfly Cove
The most wonderful time of the year…
Libby Stone has lived in Lavender Bay all her life. She loves the little seaside town and has big dreams to turn her father’s greasy old chippy into a dainty teashop – not that she’s told him yet!
Finding love isn’t easy amongst the cluster of coastal houses, but it’s not every day that someone quite as handsome and mysterious as Owen Coburn walks into the local pub.
And as the snowflakes begin to swirl on the promenade, Libby realises she’s falling for him. But Owen has been keeping a secret that could destroy everything…
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book.
This is my first book by this author. It was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
4.5 star rating!
I really enjoyed this book I received via Netgalley. It was my first visit to Lavender Bay and I had a great time there with Libby, Beth and Eliza and all their men. Owen is a great match for Libby and I loved how they supported each other.