I have enjoyed the previous books from this author and this did not disappoint, this was a lovely festive romance with lovable characters and a feel good storyline

What a lovely book! Perfect for curling up with on a winter's day. I have read other Jenny Bayliss books and enjoyed them so I did have some expectations - this story certainly didn't disappoint!

I loved the characters created by the author - such personalities, especially Annie, who I loved. She has such drive and determination and everything she does seems to turn out well. Oh, how I would love to walk along there now for a seasonal hot chocolate and slice of cake! Her book club friends are amazing - in fact, everyone in the village is so supportive and there is such a great community spirit. What a place to live Willow Bay sounds! Although you have an idea of the outcome of this romcom (and there certainly is quite a bit of humour in there!), you are never quite sure what is going to happen along the way.

A highly recommended read, especially for rainy days and dark evenings!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

When Annie reaches the end of the road in her marriage, she is looking for a chance to escape and jumps at the chance to become a live in caretaker at the seaside dwelling, Saltwater Nook. Annie quickly becomes utterly absorbed in the tight knit local community and begins to find happiness again. Unfortunately, the elderly owner’s nephew, John, is keen to sell up and Annie’s future once again looks uncertain once again…. I loved the characters which made up the Saltwater community and thoroughly enjoyed this festive romance - Jenny Bayliss has smashed it again!

Loved this so much - I now want to escape to a small community on the coast. Loved the ‘second chance’ theme - done in a realistic and sensitive way, and enjoyed that there was a much of a focus on her professional second chance as her love life which would have been very predictable!

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Idyllic location that set the tone of the book to perfection. Perfect seasonal book to get you in the mood for the festive season.

Such a lovely, cosy, warm feeling book!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

The perfect read to curl up with a hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. Lovely characters. Romance and a well drawn setting combine to create a warm feeling.

So we have a husband, Max, who cheats on his marriage. In the typical midlife crisis manner with his young employee, in the workplace no less. Such a trope! But so often true. Wife leaves with kids support as she should have done it years ago 8n their opinion..not his first rodeo, but his last with a marriage.

Now Annie has to make a new life and husband stops her money.. luckily she has her own and a lot of friends, old and new once they heard about Max.
Short of cash and lacking z home now, Annie takes on a home guardian role. And her new life.
And a cafe. And a divorce battle. And a new community and love.
So a nice cosy story for light reading in front of a fire with tea and biscuit.

A fantastic book, full of great characters. Well written and flowed nicely. Loved the book club Anna joined
A great read which gave you a feel good factor
Highly Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley, Pan MacMillan and Jenny Baylis for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I loved the authors previous book, so couldn’t wait to read this.

I loved the story and such fantastic characters,

Well written giving us, romance, laughter and lots of fun

This was nust a perfect winter read.
Hot tea, little snow and this book - perfect combination. This was a sweet and quick read.
3.5 stars for me.

I'm a huge fan of a beachside romance, and seeing one on winter was beautiful.

I loved Anna, and loved watching her redisovery of herself. The book club she joined with was hilarious - I wish there were something like that in my area.

A really great story, charming, atmospheric, great characters. Filled me with warmth and spirit. Well written and flowed nicely, was romantic and funny, charming and full of fun. A great read, i really enjoyed it.

The Winter of Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Annie Sharpe has it all – an acclaimed restaurant she owns with her handsome husband Max, and two gorgeous grown-up sons. But after one indiscretion too many, she leaves behind the only life she’s ever known.

In search of a fresh start, Annie takes up a position as a caretaker of Saltwater Nook, a creaky but charming beach house on Kent’s beautiful, wild coastline. The village community is an eccentric but tightknit bunch, and Annie is swept up in a whirlwind of their traditional festive celebrations, from pumpkin carving to bonfires on the beach. It soon feels like home – she even reopens the long-dormant seafront café.

Back in 2020 I read The Twelve Dates of Christmas which I really enjoyed so I was glad to see that Jenny was bringing out another book. For some reason I had in my head that this was going to be a second chance romance book but I was pleasantly surprised. This is a heart-warming tale full of winter charm. A lovely seasonal book for when the weather outside is miserable.

Rating 4/5

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, perfect for a winter’s evening curled up with a hot chocolate. So easy to read and a lovely romance story. Fantastic read.

3,5 Stars

Annie married her childhood sweetheart and had twins at a very young age. Since then she'd worked in her own restaurant almost day and night, while husband Max often searched for some fun outside his own bedroom. When Annie catches him with the new waitress she is fed up with him - once and for all.

She moves to a small coastal village, initially only to gather herself up and think about her future. But soon she is making friends and even opening up a little cafe right at the seafront.

I liked reading about Annie and her start into a new life-chapter very enjoyable. She is very codial and friendly and thus has no problems finding new friends, including men. But for me the heart of the story was not any romance but her life in Saltwater Nook, the community and their many festivities and the wonderful idea of having a café there on the promenade.

Another story by Jenny Baylis that I just couldn’t put down. I fell in love with this story. This was a very heartwarming tale and I can’t wait to read more by jenny

When Annie's finds her husband with another woman, she decides that it is time to leave (this isn't his first affair). She applies to be the guardian of Saltwater Nook - a former fisherman's home with a cafe attached, whilst the owner goes to stay with a friend in Cornwall for the winter. The owner's nephew John is not happy with Annie especially when she decides to reopen the cafe.
A delightful story of community and romance with lots of twists along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. The setting and sense of community is something that we often miss in this fast paced world. The heroine, Annie, chooses to walk away form her former life after finding out about her husbands betrayal. She finds somewhere to have a breather and lick her wounds but finds that it is exactly the right place for her at exactly the right time. Great escapist read.

There isn't a doubt in my mind that I could have devoured this book in one sitting, as I did with her debut novel (The Twelve Dates of Christmas). And of course...
I LOVED this!

Annie is a successful restauranter/ chef and has a "perfect life", on the outside. After a few too many marital indiscretions, she finds herself in a predicament where she needs a quick escape from her husband and old life. Along comes an advert for a live-in caretaker for Saltwater Nook, in the stunning coastal town 'Willow Bay'. And thus with it comes new adventures, new friends... a fresh start. Just what Annie needs.

The characters were all believable with perfect dynamics amongst them. The ladies in particular made me laugh out loud (a lot). I adored the nods to "classics" in the characters' book club choices, another cheeky something else 🍆, and finally the character traits of the darling John Granger- serious Mr Darcy vibes and I adored him. This was all perfectly blended in with modern contrasts of setting, dialogue and general goings on/topics of discussion.

I don't even know where to start in the way Bayliss so beautifully sets the scene of this idyllic town; all the different celebrations, but in particular one beach scene where I could almost smell the fire, see the chairs sinking, the marshmallows toasting and the waves lapping. Truly superb writing. Certainly not a one hit wonder, as Bayliss airs as a concern in her afterword. I for one will be a dedicated reader forever.

I couldn't recommend this enough, it's ideal for autumn/ winter, especially if you like to match your book to your season. Which I do 😍