I do loved how Jill Steeples writes the most amazing romantic stories that you cannot put down. I really enjoyed his wintery tale.

I love this series and this one didn’t disappoint it’s like a holiday hug from a cute English village. It allows me to travel and experience new traditions without the coat of an airplane ticket.

The authors are cute and sometime predictable but overall well written. I enjoyed this.

A lovely story that will whisk you away on a adventure. It's full of life and fun! Romantic and spicy. I love how passionate Ellie is!

The story follows Ellie as she juggles her new dog-walking business and shifts at The Dog and Duck pub. While the setting is cozy and familiar, the plot feels predictable and lacking freshness, reminiscent of similar themes explored by other authors. One glaring issue is the inclusion of the refugee crisis, which feels out of place in a chick-lit novel and isn't adequately addressed. Additionally, the extensive introductions of even minor characters feel unnecessary. The plot meanders through various subplots without clear direction, leaving the impression that the author lacked focus. Despite these flaws, the book touches on current issues like the Syrian refugee crisis, adding depth to the narrative. Overall, it's a heartwarming Christmas read with endearing characters, perfect for the holiday season, but may not offer much beyond its familiar setting.

Winter at the Dog & Duck is the cutest holiday rom com! Think Hallmark Christmas movie with small town romance.

a great book to get cosy with on a winters day, a fun read with likeable characters you love to get to know.
an author i will look out for again (and there is a sequal!!)

This book was very good! I loved the setting and the characters! I would definitely recommend and I’m excited to read other titles by this author!

This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a sweet story with Little Leyton’s village pub at the heart of it all. Ellie, recently returned from London, works shifts at the pub whilst running her own dog-walking business. Yet, a run-in with Max Golding turns Ellie’s world upside down. Suddenly, home feels more appealing in Little Leyton; London is a distant dream, along with her less-than-satisfying accounting career. But, things become complicated when Ellie learns the pub might be sold to a property developer and she may no longer have a reason to stay in the village.

I liked this story and the romantic sub-plot. The community of Little Leyton are portrayed as very welcoming and understanding; there is no negative character in the entire story. Therefore, if you are after something that is light to read and full of optimism, this is definitely a book to choose. However, I did find the plot to be rather formulaic and predictable. I believe that in a few books’ time, I am unlikely to remember the finer points to the plot.

As a result, whilst I found the story entertaining, I did get a bit frustrated by the plot direction because it felt so similar to other stories. Maybe this is because I have read quite a few of this genre recently, I still thought that Steeples has created a warm and inviting series with the pub as the backdrop. Furthermore, even though the novel’s title focuses on winter, the book actually spans the entire year and it is only the last few chapters where it starts to move into Christmas. In this way, I think this makes it great as a “warm up” read to the festive season.

Ellie’s dog walks were entertaining and I wished that the writer had expanded on this element of the story. Some of the dog personalities start to shine through in this novel and I thought Steeples could have extended this further so there isn’t so much of a focus on the village pub. After all, this is the other element that ties Ellie to Little Leyton and I enjoyed watching her interact with her different clients as she gets to know their canine buddies.

This book whisks you off to the quaint English countryside with a warming community. It is a charming narrative that you can easily lose yourself in over an afternoon and doesn’t become too Christmassy until the end.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I remember when this book first came out and this was a great excuse to re-read it and I was so glad I did. A feel-good book of the highest order, I can only hope that Miss Steeples can be presuaded to revist this cast of characters/venue for a new set of books. Please?
My thanks for Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the reading copy.

Ellie Browne leaves her hectic London job for a simpler life in the charming Buckinghamshire village of Little Leyton. Working at the Dog and Duck pub and running her own doggy-daycare business, Ellie seeks tranquillity in the idyllic English setting. However, the village undergoes changes with the return of Ellie's ex, Johnny Tay, the arrival of sultry property developer Max Golding, and rumours of the potential sale of the pub. Amidst these challenges, Ellie navigates a complex web of relationships and uncertainties, wondering if she can find true love and stability in the midst of life's complications. The novel offers a delightful mix of romance, community dynamics, and the festive spirit of Christmas in a quaint English village.

I really enjoyed this book, it has believable characters and a great story.

It moved along at a great pace and I thought it was a page turner.

I read it when I was away on holiday and it was an excellent holiday read.

A good wholesome romance

It is 5 stars from me – very highly recommended!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I have read a lot of books from this author and I usually really like them. Her novels are very cozy and easy reading. But this one was a little bit of a miss for me. The main female character was just annoying. She didn't communicate and she jumped to conclusions and refused to sit down and talk to people what she was thinking and would falsely accuse them of something was wasn't true.

The romance part was just kind of blah. I didn't fell like they had that much connection...the relationship felt rushed. I loved how everyone around her was moving on with their lives but the main female character (who is in her mid 20's) refused to accept change and wanted to keep everything the way it was when everyone told her to move on and enjoy life. She would also put everyone on a guilt trip.

Also the cover of the book.. yes it is really pretty. I always love her covers. But it was very misleading. I looks like it takes place during Christmas with christmas lights hanging in the background and the figure on the cover is hauling a Christmas tree. But the entire book does not take place during christmas at all. It just takes place during Christmas towards the very end of the novel. So that to me was misleading.

I don't remember her novels have sex scenes in them...so that was just not needed in my opinion. They just met like first date and she slept with him so it was just not needed in my opinion.

I just feel like all the books this author has written that I have read, this one just read so much different than her other books. I will continue to read from this author. I love her other books but this was just meh.

Ellie has lost her fancy job in London. She comes back to her hometown and is a dog walker, trainer and babysitter. She meets a cute guy and it makes her life complicated.
Its your usual love story at Christmas time.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Aria.

Lovely to return to the dog and duck. Lovely to chatch up with old friends and to meet new ones too. Warm and cosy. Perfect for Christmas.

This is my first winter-themed read of the season but Christmas isn't really a feature until the end of the book.
This is an easy, relaxing read with a festive backdrop. It's pleasant but not overly exciting.
I was rooting for Ellie and Max from the beginning. I liked how their friendship developed from their first humorous encounter. Their romance was a slow burn as they were both in relationships for the book's first half, and it will be interesting to see how they progress with the series.
I liked the two main characters but, Ellie had the annoying tendency to jump to conclusions. Max was not a good communicator and there seemed to be a never-ending cycle of Max doing or not telling Ellie something and her ignoring him for days and weeks thereafter.
The townspeople, cute dogs and a lovely setting contributed to making this a warm, lighthearted read.

I love the Dog&Duck series and was so glad so this arc as it would more stories.
Heartwarming, cute, well plotted. I loved to meet again the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the plot
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A cheerful, cozy book that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. The perfect book for a rainy day in front of the fireplace.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

A perfect holiday read to get you in the mood for Christmas and festivities. A cosy tale with a lovely community at the heart.
I didn't love the male protagonist as much as I should have, he just seemed to constantly try and bulldoze, omit truths and manage everything his way. He was constantly forgiven though even though he did nothing to indicate a change in that behaviour.
I loved the doggy personalities and the spirit of the community too.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a warm, cosy, wintery feeling read, then this book will tick those boxes. A lovely sounding setting and likeable characters make this a nice easy read. Thanks netgalley.