A rollercoaster of a ride romance! The beginning and ending of the story were lighthearted and charming. The middle of the story was very serious. I'm not sure if the author was modeling it after the play Much Ado About Nothing that was performed in the book or if that was the natural way the story ended up going, but it was almost like reading two separate stories. The characters were charming and complex. There were a few steamy scenes in the book which I skipped over, but the romance between Florence and Sam was undeniable. Their relationship throughout the book was a constant up and down, hence the rollercoaster reference in the opening sentence. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a good romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I know for some that reading a Christmas story in August is just one step too far for an already crazy 2020, but I promise you, you won't regret picking up SNOWFLAKES OVER BAY TREE TERRACE by Fay Keenan.

When Florence inherits a house from her deceased great-aunt, she decides it is time for a new life and takes a leap of faith by moving to the beautiful little town of Willowbury. With a new teaching job, a new place to explore, and new friends to make, Florence is busier than she could imagine, and love is the last thing on her mind, even though her slightly brooding next-door-neighbour, Sam, makes her heart flutter just a little bit. But as always, the past is never too far away, and they are both very different people with a lot going on in their lives. But as the snow begins to fall, could a little magic help them on their way to love?

With loveable characters, a stunning setting, and a lovely atmosphere that worked its magic on me as a reader, SNOWFLAKES OVER BAY TREE TERRACE by Fay Keenan is simply wonderful. The author has a talent for weaving the character's emotions in such a way that you feel it all right there with them and I smiled, teared up, and fell in love with them all so easily that I could not put this book down.

SNOWFLAKES OVER BAY TREE TERRACE is a must-read this winter season so make sure it's on your list. You won't regret it!!

Loved loved loved this story! This is the perfect Christmassy story with a great plot and some very loveable characters highly recommend if you are looking for a cosy book this winter!

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*.

I love a good Christmas story no matter what time of the year it is. Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace was everything you could ask for in a Christmas read. It was an beautiful read that is perfect for those wintery nights. I loved the characters and the plot and although it's book 2 in the Willowbury series it can easily be read as a standalone. It was a lovely easy read.

This was my first Christmas book of 2020. Is reading a Christmas book in August considered too early? I don't think so. Given the amount of time in lockdown, it feels as though we deserve a good Christmas this year.

The story is an absolute delight, despite it starting with tragedy. Florence's distant aunt has passed away and left her property to Florence, much to her surprise. She's starting a new life in the property and has a job set up as a secondary teacher in a new local school. When her noisy neighbour prevents her from sleeping, she thinks she has bad neighbours. Much to her surprise, Sam and Aiden her new neighbours are more interesting and friendly than she initially thought.

This is a well-written romance though it took me a while to get into it. This is a heartwarming festive read with plenty of strong characters. Florence is coerced into performing in a local play and is sent straight into the heart of the community. There are plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep you guessing what's going to happen next.

Aidan was one of my favourite characters, he was determined to make a life for himself despite going through huge emotional trauma. Sam spends a lot of time worrying about him and his story is told so sensitively it was beautiful to read.

A fantastic festive story that is a perfect cozy Christmas read. A wonderful story and one that I am sure to remember.

This was a lovely Chrstmas book that I really enjoyed this book is about Florence who inherites a house form her great aunt and decides to up and live in the house and start a fresh.
She has a run in with Sam her neighbour over aiden his brother playing guitar at 3am in the morning but weirdly she gets the sense that she's falling for him.
She ends up in the local play with him also.
Aiden was released from the army with ptsd after losing his crew in helmand. And Sam left the navy to care and look after his brother.

Will anything happen with Sam and can aiden make a life for himself without sams help.

It was a lovely Christmas book that I really enjoyed would definitely recommend.

A surprise inheritance has teacher Florence Ashton moving from Yorkshire to her new home and job in Willowbury in Someset. As she gets settled in, it is a time for her to know the neighbours, be coerced into playing a lead role in the local drama society's seasonal adaptation, have opportunities to make new friends and there's even a possible romance.

This is a heartwarming read, with a real sense of community spirit. It also deals with the problems associated with recovery from traumatic events and keeping secrets from your family! It is a story with drama on and off the stage, more than one romance and plenty of twists, turns and laughter before any of them can find their chance to live happily ever after!

It is one of my first Christmasy reads this summer and it was lovely to escape our current reality and virtually join this delightful story of community, family, love and romance.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I enjoyed this one! An excellent stand-alone read with only the briefest of mentions of the first in series.

Florence Ashton finds unexpectedly on the receiving end of a considerable inheritance; Great Aunt Elsie has left her cottage in Florence's capable hands. Quickly deciding to move her life to Willowbury, Florence has more than enough on her plate with home renovations and a new job. Romance isn't even featuring on her to-do list .. until she meets her neighbour that is . . .

I hadn't connected the first in series, The Weekender, until there was a slight mention of two character names near the beginning of this novel, then it all came flooding back. This is, however, a complete stand-alone story - entirely different from the first but both well worth setting time aside for. Without giving away any plot details, there are technical details included in this one for which the author has done her research and it shows in this easily flowing book. Fay Keenan always produces great reads and this one is no different. Willowbury sounds like a very attractive place to live with a variety of individual businesses, customs and traditions. A terrific read all the way through which I'm happy to both recommend and give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Rachel's Random Resources  for my spot on this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

A fun, festive, and feel good story. Is it ever too early to be reading Christmas books? Of course not, but I have to admit it was a little strange reading this when it’s over 100° out. Florence makes a life change after inheriting a cottage in A small town from her aunt. Sam is Florences new neighbor a little grumpy and too busy worrying about his brother Aiden to get involved in a relationship. But there is definite chemistry between Florence and Sam and after they are cast to perform in a Christmas play together it is harder to resist. This was an engaging will they won’t they romance. I loved the small town setting and the festive feels. Florence was such a kind character and Sam was such a good guy I really was routing for them. I also really liked Sam’s brother Aiden, I thought his PTSD was thoughtfully woven throughout the book. This was a delightful Christmas read that put me in a festive mood in the middle of August.

This book in emojis ❄️ 🎭 🚁 ☕️

*** Big thank you to Boldwood Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is my first book I have read from this author and I wasn’t disappointed. It is always nice to have another author to look forward to reading on your TBR pile. The novel follows the lives of Florence and Sam in a will they/won’t they scenario set in a delightful country village. The setting adds to the warmth and festive feel of the story but it is the characters that shine especially Aiden, Sam’s brother. He is the reason the two protagonists meet and is the glue throughout the novel. His story about the trauma of leaving the forces is sensitively told and it was lovely to see an important subject threaded into commercial novel without it being the focus. His relationship with Sam and the realistic emotional interactions they had touched me.

Florence is a school teacher and it shows in her personality while ex-Navy Sam has taught himself to protect himself emotionally. I enjoyed the build up of the sizzling chemistry between them and following their trials and tribulations you need in a good romantic novel.

This is more than a quick uplifting festive read; the well developed characters, topics of discussion and beautiful prose make it one that you do not leave behind when the final page is closed.

I love a good winter story on a 90° day here in America, mainly because this Brit ex-pat can’t handle the heat, so what perfect time that I get stuck into Snowflakes Over Bay Tree Terrace by Fay Keenan.

We start the story with Florence inheriting a cottage from her Great Aunt, and it comes at the perfect time for her (not the death obviously), as it was time for her to be moving on as she had been teaching in York since she graduated, and for an army brat, that was too long and as the old adage goes change was as good as a rest. But little did she think when moving into her great aunt's cottage just how much would change.

I found this book enjoyable and sweet, though a little slow to start in the beginning, it soon flowed, pulling me into this wonderful story. I enjoyed Florence and Sam’s characters. The book was cleverly written, with the will they/won’t they plot, that kept me with the story till the very end.

I love Christmas rom-com and this one is excellent. I rooted for the well written characters and smiled a lot.
The plot is engrossing and highly enjoyable, the characters are well thought and I loved the Christmas atmosphere.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

When Florence inherits a cottage from her great aunt she is looking forward to starting new life and when she meets Sam, her new next door neighbour, life is definitely looking up..... but has he got too much baggage to move on?

A lovely light warm book easy to curl up with and read in one session. I loved the characters of Sam and Aiden and the journey that they had made

I have not read anything by the author before but I was charmed by the writing and sweet story, it’s small town romance which I love wherever it is on the world. I love stories about community along with the love, family and friendships. This is fun, entertaining, full of twists you don’t see coming and just lovely relatable characters. Overall a sweet and addictive story you will be happier for reading


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

First Christmas book of the year coming up! Too early? I think not. However, I must admit I did feel a bit silly and wierd about reading a Christmas book during a heatwave it certainly didn’t cool me down. Anyway back to the book…

The book starts off with a death but a gift from a distant aunts will leads to a new beginning for Florence. Exciting. It drew me in wanting to know more and where this would lead for Florence. She is a very independent person, prefers to keep to herself. She soon meets her next door neighbours Sam and Aiden…

A romance soon blooms between Sam and Florence when they both become the leads of the towns Christmas play. But it becomes apparent that Sam and Aiden were both in the Army in the past and it has affected them both but more so for Aiden. This leads Sam feeling the need to watch over his brother but this is affecting his own relationship and life. Christmas comes and goes and everything starts to change for all the characters after a nasty row.

It’s beautifully written, I will say it took me a while to get into it but then I was hooked. A beautiful Christmas love story. I loved all the characters and the outcome. It has a little bit of everything this book and I think I may have liked Sam a little myself. Phew. I enjoyed reading it.

For me it was a cute little Christmas town and a small but friendly community within it. A Christmas romance with some reality within. Both the high and lows of life but a happy ending. A well deserved four stars. Highly recommend. One to add onto your Christmas piles.

After receiving an inheritance from her great aunt, Florence moves into number 2 Bayview Terrace in the beautiful village of Willowbury.

Living next door is Sam, who is busy with his job as a rescue helicopter pilot and looking after his brother. So he has no time for romance.

However, the two are clearly attracted to each other especially when they are both cast in the village Christmas play.

What a heart warming book. I loved that real world subjects were covered - including PTSD and grief, they were dealt with so beautifully.

This is one of those books you keep reading because you have to know what is going to happen next! It’s truly just like a Shakespeare play, you watch because each scene keeps you intrigued! Florence inherits a house from her Great-Aunt, she has a hunky neighbor Sam who has a brother with PTSD. However, it’s not just that clear cut just like Shakespeares plays, it’s the twists and turns! We have people almost hit by cars, one breaks their leg literally before his acting debut, one comes out of the closet, a family of fixers which is never a good mix, and those who don’t want to admit they have feelings for each other! But the clincher is Great-Aunt Elise had a whopper of a secret!
Strap on because you may feel like you are in Sam’s helicopter, this book will keep you turning the page!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and this is my willingly given thoughts and opinions!

An entertaining and well written romance. Great plot and fun characters. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Lovely story line and well written. I really enjoyed this Christmas read even though it is July, it makes you wish that Christmas was just around the corner, I would quite happily live in this small town and be part of the lives of the characters. I know I will read this again and am giving it 5 stars. This was easy to read and very enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgallet and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.