I read Fay Keenan’s enchanting Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace during a heatwave and in the sweltering weather it made for the most perfect escapist reading. Poignant, romantic and emotional, Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace will have readers yearning for hot chocolates and log fires.

Nobody was more surprised than Florence Ashton when she received news that she has been left a surprise inheritance. Deciding to up sticks and move to the idyllic town of Willowbury in Somerset, Florence is far too busy settling in, making new friends and finding her place in the community to think about love and romance. However, fate might have other ideas in store for her when she meets her hunky new neighbour, Sam Ellis – even though the two of them don’t exactly get off on the right foot as they begin clashing from the very first moment they lay eyes on one another. But Cupid tends to work in mysterious ways as Florence and Sam discover when they realise that they might actually have more in common than they initially thought…

For Air Ambulance Pilot Sam, romance is the last thing on his mind. He is not remotely interested in dating or in finding somebody to share his life with and even if he was, his neighbour Florence, who had turned up on his doorstep complaining about his noisy housemate, would surely be the last woman he would ever consider dating. However, when they both find themselves thrown together in Willowbury’s seasonal production, they quickly find themselves overcoming their differences and letting the magic of the winter season sweep them away.

As their feelings for one another intensify, will Florence and Sam give into their feelings for one another and give romance a chance? Or will the secrets which Florence unearths in the attic of Bay Tree Terrace end up putting paid to the bright future stretching ahead of them?

Fay Keenan’s Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace is everything I love about rural contemporary romances and so much more besides. Heartfelt, witty and charming, Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace is a captivating romantic read set in a community I would move to in a heartbeat. A book that touches the heart and makes readers laugh out loud, Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace is hopeful, uplifting and so incredibly compelling, I couldn’t bear to put it down.

Fun, feel-good and fantastic, Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace is a superb romantic read from a fast rising in the rural romance arena: Fay Keenan.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I liked this book was a bit hard to get into but I would advice anyone who's reading it to carry on as it gets so much better. The love story between same and Florence is perfect as no love story is ever plain sailing it shows how 2 people can over complecate things and still end up together.
I'm glad aiden finally told his brother that he's gay as it was so obvious from when he met Tom.
5 stars all around

Snowflakes over bay tree terrace by Fay Keenan

A lighthearted story of new beginnings and a journey of unexpected romance and adventure after a rather bumpy start for the main characters.

I loved the am-dram characters and their quirkiness. A lovely curl up in the sofa read if a tad slow in part but much scope for further visits to Willowbury. 3.5/5

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

A great book to read over the Christmas period
Hot chocolate,cosy fire and dark nights
Put your feet up and get absorbed into this wonderful book
Thanks NetGalley

Enjoyed this story on the whole, though Florence left me a tad 'meh' throughout as nothing much seems to happen around her most of the time. Sam was a bit more nuanced, and I really liked finding out more about Aidan throughout and the dynamics between him and Sam. There were things happening in this story, but the pace is very much a 'cozy snowy afternoon read' and it thus would be great for someone who had the time to sink into this for the whole day rather than having to read in bursts and then struggling a little to pick it back up and get into the plot as the 'plot' itself was very loosely woven around the characters

I was so excited to delve into this, my first festive read of the year. The last few days the weather has been drastically colder and i am here for it!

We meet Florence, who has just received a surprise inheritance and after some consideration she knew it was time for a change so with the new house and a new job she sets about making roots in Willowbury. She soons meets her new neighbours, even if one of them is keeping her up all night with a racket, so she is shocked to discover the other man who lives at the house. Sam - is an air ambulance pilot and is not looking for love, but there is something about Florence that keeps grabbing his attention.

As Autumn takes over and we head towards winter we are thrown into a community production organised by Florences newest friend, and she is determined the pair spend more time together. Even more so when a last minute change to the casting means that Sam is suddenly also on stage with Florence. What will happen?

I really really enjoyed this! It was just the right dose of warm reading. I wanted to hug the book, it had the community sense i loved, the small village feel and a few little mishaps along the way. The characters were such an eclectic bunch and i loved discovering their personalities. Really a way to kick start those festive feels with a new bunch of jolly friends for laughter, friendship and much much more.

I love books that give me a cozy, warm feeling, and Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace did that perfectly!

To begin with, this is one of those books where I loved the characters as a couple, rather than themselves. Initially, I found Florence to be quite stubborn and set in her ‘school teacher’ ways even in her personal life. Sam also felt like a difficult guy to connect with, as he keeps his emotions bottled up. However, I loved their chemistry together. Their romance is so adorable and it was fun to see if they will/won’t be together.

Moreover, the supporting characters are endearing and I loved them all. Specifically, I loved Aiden! I thought the author did a wonderful job of highlighting his struggles. Both Sam and Aiden deal with their own struggles, and it was nice to see Florence in the mix. Also, Josie was another favorite character and I loved her friendship with Florence. She lightens up the entire story with her opinions and advice. In fact, I even liked Tom and his snobbish mannerisms.

The author set up the story against the beautiful backdrop of Willowbury. I loved the idyllic town set during the winter season and wished I resided in such a place. Surprisingly, I also found the setting of the Air Ambulance Services fascinating. I have not read much on the topic and I really admire the author for doing research and incorporating it into the plot.

Overall, this is one of those books that sets the mood for the festive season. If you are looking for a good, cozy romance, then I would recommend this book!

Such a lovely feel good book, set at Christmas-time so has that extra bit of magic that the season brings.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, doing so over the days in between Christmas & new year, so it brightened up the dull days.
Great, fully formed, believable characters set in the lovely town of Willowbury, which sounds even more wonderful described over the festive period in which this book is set.
The flourishing romance between neighbours Florence and Sam is really well written and keeps the reader hooked and invested in their relationship throughout. Sam’s brother, Aidan, experiences PTSD following a dreadful experience in the army, and this is compassionately handled, alongside the emotional impact of this on Sam - by trying his best to help Aidan, Sam is infantilising him and not allowing him to do anything for himself. However, when Florence points this out to Sam he takes it badly, and I spent a fair few chapters getting alongside other characters in the book to push the two back together.
A prologue is always a welcome addition to a story as I always enjoy finding out that little bit more about characters once they get their happy ending, and this prologue neatly brings the year a full circle and we get a glimpse of Sam & Florence spending a second Christmas together, which drew the whole story to a lovely conclusion.
I love the fact there’s the occasional mention of Carter’s cider (if you’ve not read the Little Somerby series they’re a must!) and characters from the first book in the Willowbury series. I get so invested with the characters in books I enjoy that it’s like hearing about old friends when they get a mention in others.

This a very adorable book with a nice romance evolving nice and slowly. There are some serious mental health topics that are mentionned in this book which i find nice as it gives the book a more serious side while still being light and fun. This book is also about friendship. There are some parts that I found a bit slow in the book but all in all I really enjoyed this book by Fay keenan and I cannot wait to read another book from her!

What a perfect, romantic christmas read!. I loved everything about this story...the characters were lovable, and their individual life stories really made the story unforgettable. A definite festive must read!.

Snowflakes over Bay Tree Terrace is not my first novel by Fay Keenan, but it is a good one.

A main character who sees her life change after her aunt leaves her an inheritance.

There are many books with this type of storyline but Fay Keenan has a gift for creating a small town atmosphere that draws the reader in. Winter, a new start and romance and other adventures thrown in and you have a cosy novel that I think can be enjoyed year round.

Thanks to Fay Keenan, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

This was a lighthearted novel about romance and new beginnings. Not my favourite Christmas book ever as wasn't sure on some of the characters, nor their relationships, being entirely plausible. Some parts of the novel made me zone out but it was still enjoyable overall

A great read.
When Florence and Sam meet they don't get off to the best of starts. Soon they are spendng more time together, but they live next door to each other so what happens if it all goes wrong.?

Once I got over the fact that part of the book is set in December and it is still August, I settled into the story and enjoyed several aspects of the book. The setting is gorgeous- a small, community minded place with quite a bit going on and a few individual touches. The characters are likeable too, Florence never quite manages to put aside her schoolteacher manner when she is out of the classroom, but she knows this. Underneath the surface Sam has some issues to come to terms with around commitment. His brother is facing his own struggles with the aftermath of some traumatic events. In all, you get the feeling that there is more to this story for Sam and Florence than a 'will they, won't they?' romance. There are also some quirky individuals to be found in the local amateur dramatics society and a few humorous touches as well.

Although part of the story takes place at Christmas, this is not an over the top, oh-so-festive story. It is very much in the background. I enjoyed the references to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing which fitted with Florence's job as an English Teacher. There is lots of potential in this village for more and I do hope to visit Willowbury again.

In short: The course of true love...
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

Sam and Florence don’t get off to the best of starts, his brother keeps her up all night playing guitar through an amp. When she goes to complain the next morning she meets Sam, the local air ambulance pilot. English teacher Florence is dragged in to help in a local production of a Christmas version of Much Ado About Nothing by one of her colleagues. She is reluctantly cast as Beatrice and Sam is even more reluctantly cast as Benedicks understudy but forces bring them together
I liked Florence as a character, she knows what she wants but is also new to the area and it’s taking some time to adjust. She quickly forms friendships and settles in to local life. She does however unconsciously keep part of her teachers voice and persona on even when not at work which can make things interesting. She likes Sam and his brother Aidan from early on and seeing her relationships develop with them makes her feel much more human
I loved Sam, he was nervous about Florence, he really likes her but finds it hard to share his feelings as he was in the Navy and his job as an air ambulance pilot means that he has kept his feelings bottled up for years and now caring for his brother he is determined to show a strong facade. Sam adores Florence and seeing him develop as a character was really good and pulled the story together properly
This book looks at the magic of Christmas and how a nightmare may actually be the best thing that has happened to you
I liked how this book also focused on the air ambulance. In the UK, as far as I’m aware, all air ambulances are funded by donations not the government but the crew and staff will be there when you need them the most, when your life could be in severe danger so please do consider supporting your local air ambulance if you can, whether that be by donations, attending open days, fundraising or even just spreading the word that they aren’t government funded then I’m sure they would appreciate it
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story with a brilliant cast of characters and a hero and heroine who will warm your heart

Florence moves to the "New Age" spiritual town of Willowbury in Somerset after inheriting her aunt's house. She quickly settles into her job as a teacher making friends with her colleague Josie and neighbours Aiden and Sam.

There is lots of festive fun in the lead up to the holidays with Winterfest and the Christmas play, Much Ado about Christmas, which is put on by the local community to raise funds for the air ambulance. I didn't realise that air ambulances are not publically funded and operate purely on charity, so this book is certainly doing a good job raising awareness for that.

With lots of short chapters and a few mysteries along the way about Aunt Elsie's past, and Sam and Aiden's relationships, it kept me wanting to read more. Quite often chick lit will feature a stereotypical gay best friend, but it was good to see both gay and heterosexual romances included in this book. This book was well written and edited.

Published by Boldwood Books August 2020

Favorite Quotes:

Sam needs a third party to interpret for him on occasion, he’s that emotionally constipated.

Wandering into the kitchen, he saw Aidan emptying the dishwasher… ‘Don’t remember you ever doing that when I lived here all the time.’ ‘That’s because you did it all for me,’ Aidan grinned. ‘Why own a dog and bark yourself?’


My Review:

This was a light, sweet, and slowly evolving romance with relevant, relatable, and current issues. The writing style and storylines were original and easy to follow and cast with characters who were likable, hardworking, and endearing. Toss in a production of the Bard, a few tasty servings of sizzle, and mix in meddling friends and family and the end result is a light and entertaining diversion.

I volunteered to read this book, through netgalley in exchange, for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. I adored this book and all the characters are enjoyable. This book has LGBTQ representation. I highly highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. This ebook is in stores now for $5.99 (AUD).

I have read a couple of Fay's books and I really enjoyed them. I read the synopsis for 'Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace' and it certainly sounded like another amazing read from Fay Keenan. I was spot on as I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of this book but more about that in a bit.

I loved the characters of Florence Ashton and Sam Ellis and I warmed to them both from the start. Florence is a teacher. Florence inherits a house from her great aunt, which she was not expecting at all. Florence ends up moving to her late great aunt's house and Florence also finds herself a job. She has fond childhood memories of going to Willowbury as a child to visit and sometimes stay with her great aunt. Florence regrets not having visited her great aunt more over the last few years but with work and things, she just hasn't had the time. Moving to Willowbury is the new start that Florence needs. There are a few teething problems with the house next door, as one of the residents has a fondness for playing the electric guitar at all hours of the night. Sam is an air ambulance pilot and he first runs into (almost literally) Florence when he is distracted by a pasty and crosses the road in front of Florence's car. It turns out that Florence and Sam live closer to each other than they might have imagined. I won't go into any further details as I don't want to spoil the story for anybody. Will Florence and Sam get the happy ever after ending that they both deserve? Well for the answer to that question and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out.

When I agreed to take part in the blog tour for 'Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace', I hadn't actually realised that it was the second in the Willowbury series. That didn't make the blindest bit of difference to me because the book reads perfectly well as a standalone story. This was one of those books that immediately grabbed my attention and drew me into the story. I found that I took so well to the main characters that I felt compelled to keep reading and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I genuinely cared what happened to them and of course that meant that the pages were turning increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Florence and Sam. I do hope that we meet them again though.

'Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace' is well written. In Florence and Sam, Fay has created genuinely lovable characters who were described so realistically that they seemed to leap off the page and they seemed just as real as you and I. I did end up feeling as though they had both become good friends of mine. I loved the fact that this book had snow in the title, especially as I read this book in summer when the temperatures was far hotter than I can cope with. Reading this book felt like a hug in a mug, in that the story makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I felt as though I was part of the story and that's all down to Fay's very vivid and realistic storytelling.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Fay's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.