Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Welcome back to snowy Lavender Bay for the third book in this series, this is another brilliant instalment which can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone book and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Libby adores her home town it is all she has ever known and she loves working alongside her Dad. Libby is a quirky character who you instantly take a shine too, a girl after my own heart. This story focuses on Libby and the mystery surrounding the arrival of Owen and how he upsets the equilibrium in her life.

I really enjoyed this seaside read set during the winter months in Lavender Bay, I loved losing myself in this story alongside these loveable characters. A perfect read to snuggle down with these upcoming winter evenings and get swept along in their whirlwind.

As I had not read any of Sarah Bennett´s books before and to me Christmas books can be very hit and miss, I wasn´t sure what to expect. Fortunately it turned out to be a very enjoyable story. I think the title and cover might be a little misleading as the story starts at the hight of summer and ends at the end of the year but I still think it´s a great read for this time of the year.

In the book we meet Libby and her friends who have grown up in Lavender Bay. While her friends have left the bay at some point to move back later, Libby has never left. She and her wonderful dad run a fish and chip stop but her father wants more for his daughter and plans to sell the shop and with it their home.

We also meet Owen, a successful business man who comes to the bay for personal reasons as well as to purchase a business. You can see where this is going...

Owen and Libby are both lovable characters but what I liked most about the book where all the other wonderful characters who had each others´ backs at any time and although not necessarily related, seemed to have grown to be family. I thought the friendship between Beth, Eliza and Libby is one that anyone is lucky to have and Libby is incredibly fortunate to have a dad like hers. Everyone welcomes Owen with open arms and seeing him open up to these strangers makes the story the more heartwarming. If heartwarming is what you are looking for in the run up to Christmas, this is definitely a book for you!

Snowflakes at Lavender Bay is such an endearing story of two people searching for something to bring fulfillment to their lives. They find each other but lies of omission, fears and insecurities work together to stop and start what could prove to be the fulfillment they seek.

I was lucky enough to receive an E-copy of this book from Netgalley! I couldn’t wait to be back on the journey with Libby, her character was built up beautifully through the first two books. She is a fiery, independent young lady who falls in love with Owen Coburn pretty much as soon as she see’s him. Much to her own denial obviously!

I really enjoyed how this book would flit between Libby and Owen and the relationship that grew between these characters was both frustrating (in all the right ways) and magical. I loved how all of the characters were one big family in little Lavender Bay, and it was extra heart-warming that it featured over Christmas.

The big plot secret was heavily featured around Owen ‘Finding himself’ and Libby ‘Following her dreams’ and reading this book I found it unfolded beautifully. The only complaint I have about this book is that the ending snuck up on me! I could have kept on reading, and while all the pieces of the puzzle were revealed.. I found myself surprised that I reached the ending! I’d have loved to have seen a little more of their stories, but now the reader has a ton of things to imagine so it leaves you with a warm feeling.

Overall: 4**** – This was a warm pleasant holiday read. The characters were ‘Swoonworthy’ and such a glorious wrap up to Libby’s journey. Perfect to read snuggled up with a hot chocolate and a blanket!

5☆ Charming, Warm Romantic Festive Read!

SNOWFLAKES AT LAVENDER BAY is the third book in the Lavender Bay series but my first book. It can be read as a standalone but I will definitely be reading the other books as the characters are endearing and I fell in love with Lavender Bay.
Oh and not forgetting to mention just how gorgeous Cover is!!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Warm, feel good read.

Libby works in the seafront fish and chip shop, which her father owns.
Her Dad is thinking of retiring soon and Libby dreams of him passing the business to her.

You see Libby dreams of turning it into a quaint cafe and bakery serving delicious cream teas, pastries and delicate sandwichs. There is nothing like this in Lavender Bay, but there is plenty of fast food places. Libby's Mother taught her to bake and she feels it will help keep her Mums memories alive.

The mysterious and handsome Owen rocks into Lavender Bay. He certainly makes an impression.
You see Owen is a shrewd business man and wants to invest in a new project.
But who I wonder is willing to sell to him?!?!

Owen also has an ulterior motive for being in Lavender Bay.
He is trying to locate someone, and find out information.
It should be easy.... The Bay isn't exactly over populated and everyone knows everyone.... But Owen isn't having much luck.
I didn't warm to Owen straight away, but as his past uncovered I could feel and understand his pain, and his need to put up a wall and push people away.

When Libby and Owen meet he manages to insult her and upset her.
But Libby can't help feeling the tingles whenever his name gets mentioned.
He is dangerously handsome, but does he feel the same way?

There is many secrets to uncover, romance to be found and new beginnings to be had.

The characters are entertaining, likeable, I loved the close friendships between Libby, Eliza and Beth, the flirty banter and sass between Libby and Owen.
The storyline is Warm, Cosy, feel good, Compelling, festive and at times emotional.

This is not my first book I have read by Sarah and it definitely won't be my last!
She always creates memorable locations... this time it's Lavender Bay (which I adored), her characters come to life and become like friends, she packs emotion, charm, romance, Endearing and Compelling plots into all of her books.

SNOWFLAKES AT LAVENDER BAY is a beautifully compelling read with plenty of festive charm. So snuggle up, grab a hot chocolate and take a trip to Lavender Bay!

Thank you to Isabel at HQ Digital for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved the Butterfly Cove books, also written by Sarah Bennet and I really enjoyed reading Spring and Summer at lavender Bay so I was excited to receive an ARC copy from #netgalley to review.

Synopsis

Libby Stone has spent her entire life in lavender Bay. Since her mother passed when she was a teen, Libby has worked alongside her father in their local chip shop whilst secretly nurturing dreams of turning it into a cafe when her father retires.

Owen Coburn is in lavender Bay for two reasons; one is to find some trace of his biological family after years in the foster system. The second is to look for property and building investments to add to his impressive portfolio.

Their first meeting ends in disaster with both characters showing a mutual dislike whilst harbouring secret feelings about each other. As their lives become more involved through mutual friendships, can they put aside thier insecurities and often foolish pride to make things work? Especially when an unplanned surprise is thrown in to the mix!

Review

After reading several thrillers recently I was ready for a warm and fuzzy read and this did not disappoint. I love seasonal novels and this one is perfect for this time of year. Not too Christmassy until the end but definitely has winter vibes. Even the beautiful cover makes me want to curl up in my pyjamas with hot chocolate and a quilt to read.

I’m over the moon to see Libby get her turn as the main protagonist as I always felt hers would be the saddest story as she was the most insecure of the girls. What enabled me to immerse in the story even more was the split point of view between Libby and her love interest Owen (who has made a brief appearance in the previous books). Usually when reading I take a ride in one characters shoes, to the point of becoming that character, but in this case I was torn between the two of them. The ending had me snivelling sad tears followed by happy tears too.

I’m sad that the series is coming to an end but I’m also hoping there a new one on the way from Sarah Bennett.

If you are looking for a light, uplifting wintry book then this is one for you.

Libby has lived all her life in Lavender Bay and whilst she has seen her friends go and gravitate back to the place she has no desire to leave it. Lavender Bay is her world and she is quite happy about that fact.

However her friends, Eliza and Beth both have romance in their lives and this is something that perhaps if Libby admitted it to herself she craves as well.

When Owen walks into the local pub and all of their lives, it seems that he is going to be a permanent feature in Lavender Bay.

Owen and Libby seem to rub each other up the wrong way and you can see the sparks fly whenever they get into conversation with each other. But perhaps with them sparks comes a little flame of desire?

That is if Libby can make up her mind what she wants - and also what she really wants to do with her life?

Libby does not want to run the fish and chip shop - she has a fancy for cream teas and scones.

Her dad thinks she should see some of the world when he retires and sells the fish and chip shop they run. Only trouble is that he hasn't told her this.....so he goes ahead and sells the shop.

Will the new owner of the fish and chip shop reveal their identity or will Libby carry on trying to create her dream life without knowing all the facts?

This is the final part of the Lavender Bay trilogy and probably was my favourite of the three. It can easily be read as a standalone but if you do decide to read them all - in order then you will see how cleverly this novel has been almost woven on top of the previous two as you see things from Libby and Owen's point of view.

There is something about being taken to the seaside as winter comes in, as the tourists go home and only the hardy locals understand that community has to survive in all seasons. The snow (which is not really common by the beach I live by) adds an almost magical element to the story and gives it a real wintry feel.

A great read for those cold wintry nights - even the warm ones too!

The 3rd book in the 'Lavender Bay' series but I have not read the first 2 books and this worked absolutely fine as a standalone for me.

This book gave me all the feels - as we creep ever closer to Christmas and now we're in November I am in full-on festive mode (only for books and films!) and this did not disappoint.

Libby runs a fish and chip shop on the seafront with her dad who has grand plans for retirement - Libby has grand plans of her own for the shop but little does she know her dad has forged ahead in secret with selling the shop to Owen. Only Libby has fallen for the mysterious stranger Owen and I actually quite liked the secretive aspect to this book but I truly wanted Libby to see past the secrets and hurt she feels initially to remain enamoured with Owen!

I thoroughly enjoyed this festive read that had an underlying sense of hope running through it. I loved seeing both Libby and Owen's characters develop and overall it just did not disappoint!

My thanks to HQ Digital via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit I am a fan of Sarah Bennett's writing and I enjoyed the previous two books in her Lavender Bay series, Spring at Lavender Bay and Summer at Lavender Bay. This book dare I say it was even better than the previous two. It made me laugh and I have to admit it even made me cry. I love the setting obviously and the characters were well rounded and lovely to read about. If you are looking for a moving read that will make you feel warm and fuzzy this is definitely for you.

This is the second book of Sarah’s that I have read this year, I came across her books by sheer chance (and a book win from HQ) after falling I love with Butterfly Cove I knew I had to get myself on the tour for Lavender Bay!

The main focus of the story is about Owen and Libby. Owen *sigh*  loaded, arrogant and keeps everyone at an arms length….. until he arrives in the bay, then he turns into this person who goes out of his way to help and please everyone.

I LOVE him!!

He’s like a 2 sided coin,

In London he’s this self made, confident company owner, yet when he steps foot into the bay he turns into this unsure, second guessing himself, broken guy.

After reading his reasons for first coming to the bay I knew I’d be gripped with this book. Watching him struggle to not only learn to accept himself for who he was but to actually let people into his life without him pushing them away….. agh! #GutWrenching

As for Libby, I had a love/hate feeling for her. One minute I was all for the, the next I wanted to shake her and yell

MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!

These two are like two peas in a pod! So alike yet so different! Thank the Lord for their friends and guiding them together (especially for Libby)

I guessed where Sarah was taking our two main characters (little high 5 to me!) And I absolutely loved the letters to KB….  yep….. I cried! More so about the letter from KB.

If you love your books with a feel good story line, characters you both love yet was to shout at, and a totally mushy feel then this book, or series is just for you!


Massive thanks to HQ Digital for allowing me to join this tour and to the author, Sarah Bennett for writing such a heart warming story that even thawed this bloggers usual thriller loving heart!

Snowflakes At Lavender Bay by Sarah Bennett is the most delightful contemporary tale to warm every heart. It is the third book in the Lavender Bay series but can be read as a stand-alone. This is a wonderful series. I have decided I would love to move into Lavender Bay where there are no strangers, just potential new friends.
The atmosphere is warm and welcoming - like hot chocolates with marshmallows or a roaring log fire. The reader just sinks into the book with ease. Characters open their hearts and homes to all. Generosity is the order of the day.
With witty dialogue and amusing moments, a light heartedness hovers over the novel. There are serious themes of searching for roots and to belong. Sometimes we are looking for a home, only to realise we are already there. A home is where we are loved and there is much love in the novel.
We all have dreams. We do not need to travel to fulfil these. Sometimes our dreams are on our doorstep. "No-one seems to understand that not leaving the bay doesn't mean I don't have dreams of my own."
Our pasts may have been hard. We "carefully erected barriers against the world." Barriers we put up to keep us safe actually do the opposite and imprison us. We need to knock those walls down.
There is the theme of fathers. We may not have had a good, or indeed any role model but that does not mean we will not be good fathers when the time comes.
Community, love, friendship, new beginnings and home are all found within the pages of Snowflakes At Lavender Bay. A wonderful feel-good read, so pack your bags and head off to escape for a few hours to Lavender Bay. Refresh your heart in this fabulous tale.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This is the third novel in the Lavender Bay series, following on from the success of ‘Spring at Lavender Bay' and ‘Summer at Lavender Bay'. I haven’t read the first two novels but I certainly will now because I enjoyed this one so much.
Libby Stone has always lived in Lavender Bay and cannot imagine ever moving away. She absolutely loves the place and knows everybody in the supportive and tightly knit community. She and her father work happily together selling their renowned fish and chips from their seafront shop. Then one day her father drops a bombshell when he tells her he is retiring and has already sold the shop. He plans to visit Spain to search for a place to live, somewhere near the coast with milder weather, especially in winter. Winters are quiet, fierce, cold and windy in Lavender bay. He tells her that everything about their home and workplace reminds him of his wife who has sadly died. He needs a change and looks forward to relaxing in the warm sunshine. Secretly, Libby has known for a while that her father needs to retire, but she has always dreamed and even started planning to take over the shop. She wants to change the use of the shop into a cosy teashop and has many ideas (and savings to implement them) for what needs to be done. She is utterly flabbergasted and very hurt.
When a stranger called Owen Coburn books into the pub for a few days and starts to ask questions about the area she is intrigued. She strikes up a conversation with him but finds him mysterious just as though he’s holding something back. He’s very handsome though and she feels the first spark of attraction. It’s not easy to find a boyfriend in Lavender Bay. It’s really quiet and eligible bachelors are few and far between. It’s very different throughout the summer months though. Visitors flood the beach and streets enjoying the comfortable accommodation and the pretty beach. A new business like a teashop would be just the thing that the tourists would like.
When Owen leaves the bay she thinks that’ll be it, but she is surprised when he returns. He is a businessmen and it seems he is interested in buying a property as an investment. He is also interested in her and so they start a secret relationship. Still he comes and goes, keeping eyes on both business concerns so Libby decides to try to forget all about Owen. She certainly doesn’t want to move away. What happens next is at the heart of this lovely novel.
I slipped into the story with ease despite having not read the first two novels, in fact it reads very well as a standalone novel. I loved the cleverly crafted story and its host of eclectic characters, just like every community has. The storytelling was fluid and assured and it kept me turning the pages anxiously because I really wanted to know what happened to these well rounded characters. The theme of secrecy runs through the novel and I wanted these secrets resolved so very much because there was so much riding on the character’s actions.
I received this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher HQ in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. I feel I have discovered another truly talented author who strives to write a beautiful story for others to enjoy. It’s a well deserved 4.5* review from me.

I love the lavenday bay series and have read Beth’s story and Eliza’s. This is Libby’s story. And we meet familiar characters, Re intoruduces to some new ones and really get to know Libby and Owen. We met Owen in the first book and he wasn’t too nice. We met him in the second and he was nicer and this flashes back to the first book time and we hear his own story. And he does have a story.

This book is as comforting, comfortable and familiar as hot chochlotae and a soft blanket on a winters day. It really IS the most wonderful time of the year!

While I thought this was going to be a book that I would enjoy (based on the synopsis), unfortunately it wasn’t.

I stopped reading at page 32. Maybe this book just isn’t for me? Something about Bennett’s writing style lulled me to the point where I had to read passages more than once to actually comprehend what was going on in the story. I found that I was “spacing out” and not really taking in any information.

I have loved this series! This third book is the story of Libby and Owen. Thrown together when Owen ends up part of Libby's friendship group. As much as she dislikes him she can't help but be attracted to him. He has a big secret which will change Libby's future but you can't help hoping they can get past it and end up together.