After losing her job as a flight attendant Libby returns to home village of Cranfield.where she shares a house with her father. Desperate to find a job to help support herself and her father the opportunity arises to make her hobby as a chocolatier into a paying occupation. The only problem is that she will have to ask Ethan, with whom she had been friends since school until he left her heartbroken at the prom, to use his large kitchen to make the chocolates in.
This book has all the ingredients for the type of book that I really enjoy, a small community, friends and obstacles that must be overcome with the occasional hint of humour, danger and, of course, romance. I liked Libby, Ethan was more difficult but as the story developed the reasons behind his distrust of love and romance are revealed. Throw in a stream train and there is plenty to enjoy in this book and definitely recommended for those who enjoy small town romances.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The story is about Libby and Ethan. Both have also been in previous books.

During their school days, they were friends, always together. But since the prom date went horribly wrong, they’ve both focused on their careers, which were away from the village and only returning for small amounts of time.

But, Libby is now unemployed and whilst looking for another job, decides to try making chocolate, which she loved doing, and hopefully earn some money. In order to make a lot more to sell, means she needs a bigger space, and the only place that has a big kitchen is where Ethan lives.

They both begin to share the space Ethan is leaving soon so Libby doesn’t think it’ll be a problem. But, then Ethan’s grandad gets ill, meaning Ethan will be staying longer.

The village residents unite helping Ethan make his Grandads dream come true, to restore the Christmas train exactly as it was once.

I was happy to find out why Libby and Ethan have never got on since the prom. can Libby and Ethan forget the past and admit their feelings for one another.

It was lovely to see how the community come together, just like they have done in other stories of the village, changing it completely.

Will Libby and Ethan finally clear their differences?

I shall miss the villagers, characters old and young.

I highly recommend this book and the series.

This is the fourth, and final, book in the Railway Lane Series from Alison Sherlock. The books in this series are set in the small village of Cranfield and concern events in the lives of some of its inhabitants. The village was adversely affected by the closure of its station many years ago, but thanks mainly to the characters in these stories, new life is gradually being breathed into it. I have enjoyed watching its development in previous books and am looking forward to seeing what is to come in this new addition to the series.

This story focuses on Libby Jacobs and Ethan Connolly, both born and bred in Cranfield. In their youth they were inseparable, until a disastrous date on prom night, after which both followed careers which took them away from the village for most of the time. When Libby loses her job, she decides to try to make a living out of her chocolate making hobby. Scaling up the process means she needs a larger kitchen, and the only one available unfortunately belongs to Ethan, who is between contracts and unusually living in the village for a few months. Sharing the kitchen is not as difficult as the pair feared, but when Ethan’s grandad falls ill, it looks as though Ethan may have to stay longer than planned. In fact, the whole village is brought together in spectacular fashion when Ethan decides to make his grandad’s dream come true and resurrect the Christmas train which used to run from the station. In the midst of the preparations, can Libby and Ethan forget the past and admit their feelings for one another.

This was a wonderful final chapter in this series. Libby and Ethan have featured in all of the other parts, but in minor roles, and there has always been the mystery about why they disliked each other. I was pleased to find out what had happened in their past and was willing them to get together throughout this book. Once again, through Ethan’s determination to get the Christmas train up and running for his grandad, the reader sees the power of community, which is always evident in stories about Cranfield, and which has turned the village around as the series progressed. It has been heart warming to witness developments as new characters have been introduced to the area and the village has gradually woken up. I shall certainly miss all of the villagers who have become like friends as I read each successive book. I can heartily recommend this book and the whole series to anyone wishing to escape to this little village for a few hours.

This was a lovely read, quite predictable but lovely all the same. Very well written, lovely descriptions of places and people so you can get a real sense of who you’re reading about. I’m going to try and find some more of this author’s books to read now as I enjoyed her writing so much.

Oh my gosh I absolutely loved this book!!! I can not get over how adorable this is. It was just the sweetest thing. I loved this sweet story.

A very sweet story, emotional in places and intriguing in others.
The story starts with Libby as she makes her way back to her home town and all the emotions that comes with returning to somewhere you’ve been running from your whole life.
She soon realises that this is where she needs to be as she embarks on a journey of self discovery throughout the story, the help of her best friends shows her that reconnecting with a former love interest is the right thing to do.
I loved the emotion weaved throughout the story, the difficulties between Libby and her father, the way they reconnected towards the end was incredibly touching.
The main story aside from Libby and her former love was the restorations of an old steam train belonging to the village. I love steam trains and Christmas so this was a perfect book for me.

“Winter Magic on Railway Lane” transports readers to the picturesque village of Cranfield, where the magic of winter intertwines with love, family, and nostalgia. As the fourth installment in The Railway Lane Series, this heartwarming novel weaves a cozy tale that will leave you yearning for snowflakes and steam trains.

Plot and Initial Impressions
At first, the book feels heavy-handed, as the author imparts a wealth of information in a short span. However, patience reveals that this data dump serves a purpose—it’s part of a larger series canvas. As the story unfolds, we meet Libby Jacobs, a globe-trotting flight attendant who unexpectedly loses her job. Returning to Cranfield, she reconnects with her widowed father and encounters her first love, Ethan Connolly. The character development, especially that of Libby’s father, Phillip, adds depth to the narrative.

Setting
For steam railway enthusiasts, this book is a treat. The train details are meticulously crafted, evoking the nostalgia of bygone eras. The magic of winter on Railway Lane becomes a character in itself, creating a delightful backdrop for the unfolding romance.

Overall Impression
By the halfway point, you’ll find yourself invested enough to finish the book. While writing this review compelled you to persevere, the cozy atmosphere and relatable characters make it a worthwhile read. On a scale of 1 to 5 stars, I’d give “Winter Magic on Railway Lane” a solid 3 stars.

In summary, Alison Sherlock’s novel combines romance, family dynamics, and a touch of holiday spirit. If you’re seeking a feel-good read set against the backdrop of snow-kissed railways, this book is your ticket. 🌟🌲🚂

Libby Jacobs returns to her hometown of Cranfield after losing her job and dreams of turning her passion for chocolate into a business. Complicating matters is Ethan, her childhood soulmate, who’s back in town to help with a Christmas train project while dealing with his own past. As they reconnect, their old feelings resurface, but Ethan’s fear of love, shaped by his mother’s actions, holds him back. The story explores loss, illness, hope, and the magic of Christmas. Libby's journey, mixed with chocolate-making and small-town charm, creates an uplifting, heartwarming read full of promise.

Libby finds herself without a job and headed home.
Ethan has bought the old school house and turning it into a home. Once they were the best of friends.
This was a nice feel good story. It’s about second chances, not only in love but in life too.
Great series, check it out.

I received a free copy of, Winter Magic on Railway Lane, by Alison Sherlock, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book four in The Railway Lane Series. Libby has lost her job as a flight attended, and is in a bit of a rut looking for a new one. Her arch nemesis Ethan returns to their hometown, but maybe he can help her? This is a sweet story about igniting your passion in life again. I also like the cover, its very pretty.

I really enjoyed this book. In one word I would describe it as cozy. The book just gives you a sense of warmth and community. I tend to find romances very hit or miss and can confidently say this one was a hit for me, Sherlock creates characters that feel like real people yet are still interesting and keep you coming back for the novel. I would definitely recommend this novel!

A heartwarming tale that brings the cosy village of Cranfield to life for one last magical adventure. When Libby Jacobs returns home after losing her job, she dreams of turning her love for chocolate-making into a career. But to do so, she needs the help of Ethan Connolly, her estranged childhood soulmate. As they work together on a festive project to fulfil his late grandad’s dream of a Christmas train, old wounds resurface and sparks fly. This charming story of second chances, community, and holiday magic is a delightful read that captures the spirit of the season.

A really lovely, well written, story of family, romance, friendship and community. Fabulous characters brought to life on the pages of this book and a real feel good read. Can't wait for Alison Sherlock's next book.

This has been a delight to read. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical book!

The pace of the book was perfect and so were the length of the chapters. The character dynamics were well written and I loved the relationship between Libby and Ethan.

Libby's and Ethan's history, their reasoning for them being off and on, their different issues added to this. It genuinely has been one of the best books I've read in the past few months and I honestly felt so honoured to have been able to read this.

I cannot wait to buy the whole series and read the other characters love story! I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a good winter read!

4 ⭐️ 0-1 🌶️

Read As An Arc

🎄 HEA
🎄 Magic of Christmas
🎄 Small Town
🎄 Huge Secret
🎄 Cozy Read
🎄 Dreamy MMC
🎄 Passion for Chocolate
🎄 All The Feels
🎄 Second Chance


The holiday story of Libby and Ethan brings a real life focus on job losses, lost loves, illness, mental health, death, and even affairs. This small town is literally a place that I would love to live in, sort of like those charming hallmark Christmas movies. There is a steam train and a lavender farm, how cute would that be in the winter?! I am not a winter and snow gal but this already had me attracted.

One of the things that I love about this is how she captured not just the love, but the importance of the holiday too, like friends, family, joy, and hope. The setting itself is an outstanding surrounding, the characters are well well developed and relatable.

The characters are just amazing. Libby after losing her job, goes into working for a passion she has, chocolate. (Chocolate is m passion too but I wouldn’t be able to make a career of it lol) And Ethan, he comes back to help out his family with the train. As this is part of a series, you notice the change an growth of them from being supporting characters to FMC and MMC. This is what I gathered from the read.

I wouldn’t consider this a flaw but there is an emotional impact with this read, so grab the tissues.

My two downsides is that: 1. I should’ve read the rest of the books in the series prior; 2. Just like the hallmark movies, there is a predictability and cliche tone to the read. This is what lost the 1 ⭐️ for me, but this would’ve been a true 4.50 if I had read the previous books. Overall, this was a great holiday read that you can coy up to, and I can’t wait to re-read this after the other books!




* Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

** will be posted on Goodreads on Aug 24 @ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/170879374-bee?shelf=read

Libby has lost her job and goes back to Cranfield and would love to make her hobby into her job of making chocolates but she doesn't have a big enough oven. In steps Ethan to offer his but they used to be together and she doesn't know if it would work

This is such a lovely book that really shows the strength of family, friends and community. Libby and Ethan were always best friends and thought that their relationship could possibly develop into something more. However how Ethan was on prom night changed all that. After cabin crew Libby loses her job she returns to Railway Lane Cranfield and dreams of starting her own chocolate business but Ethan is also back in Cranfield. Can the magic of Christmas and them both admitting to themselves how they still feel about each other let them have a chance at love? I found this an easy heartwarming read that has a great bunch of characters and a lovely setting. An all round great book with a bit of everything. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

what a wonderful story. Libby and Ethan are a second chance couple. But with all their family and friends in the Village and Christmas right around the corner you know there has to be love. Read this and enjoy!

This is a heartwarming, festive romance with charming characters, an engaging storyline, and cozy setting. The book is about Libby Jacobs, who returns to her home village of Cranfield, after losing her job. She dreams of turning her chocolate-making hobby into a business. However, her plans are complicated by the return of her childhood soulmate Ethan. Ethan, who is dealing with his own past, is staying in Cranfield to help with a Christmas train project. Together, they work through their past and current challenges, with the magic of winter offering them a second chance at love.

This book has a wonderful feel-good nature and is full of lovely storytelling. I really enjoy Alison Sherlock's writing style, which is perfect for a cozy read by the fire or under a warm blanket on a cold day. The setting and characters are delightful, making it an ideal book to snuggle up with over a weekend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a DRC of this title for review.

I've had the best time reading all the books in the Railway Lane series, and Winter Magic on Railway Lane was the perfect sendoff with all the romance, friendship, and cozy vibes readers have come to love. Hoping this series isn't the end of the shared universe between Cranley, Cranbridge, and Cranfield, but in the meantime, that just means I'll have to go back and reread my favorites!