Member Reviews

This book is the perfect cozy Christmas read that will transport you straight into the enchanting world of Micklewick Bay! It's brimming with heartwarming holiday cheer and feels like a Hallmark movie in the best possible way. You'll absolutely adore Florrie and Ed as they navigate their way through the charming Christmas Memory Project, making it a festive delight from start to finish. With Christmas magic on every page, this story is sure to become a holiday favorite!

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This book was set in a quaint bookstore. It was a lovely book that was perfect for a rainy day read!!! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion.

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A warm, cozy Christmas read. It’s giving Hallmark vibes; in all the right ways. Prepare to fall in love with Florrie and Ed as your transported to the dreamy work of Micklewick Bay!

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Heartwarming festive read. Absolutely love the Christmas Memory Project. Definitely Christmas on every page.

Thank you Eliza J Scott, Storm publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

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This book is like a warm hug, the author manages to tell a beautiful tale of village life and the characters that are central to it. The book centres on the book shop and Florine and Ed. They are a couple in this book and living together in what looks like a perfect world from the outside. They are excited about Christmas and decorations go up and glitter gets everywhere. Underneath there is concern, Ed is hiding something and Florrie wonders if this I s cold feet about their future plans. And under it all is dodgy Dick who is threatening their business, breaking in and scaring them and their customers. Nothing really happens, the mystery is safely unravelled but it is the minutiae of the village life that is the story and appeal.

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Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott is an enchanting holiday narrative set in the picturesque coastal town of Micklewick Bay. The plot centers on Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte, who have inherited the Happy Hartes Bookshop alongside their affectionate black Labrador, Gerty. As the duo endeavors to prepare for a magical Christmas by adorning their shop and coordinating community events, they encounter unforeseen obstacles, including enigmatic acts of sabotage that jeopardize their establishment. Florrie's anxiety intensifies when Ed begins to exhibit peculiar behavior following a phone call from his father, prompting her to reevaluate their relationship during this festive period.

The narrative intricately weaves elements of mystery, romance, and familial dynamics, emphasizing the couple's attempts to fortify their connection amidst holiday turmoil. The story encapsulates the spirit of Christmas through captivating depictions of winter activities and communal camaraderie, ultimately culminating in the unearthing of secrets and the resolution of tensions. As Florrie and Ed confront their trials, they forge enduring memories that embody the warmth and joy characteristic of the holiday season, rendering this novel a heartwarming contribution to any festive reading repertoire.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott

From the very first page of Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea, I felt enveloped in the warmth and charm of Micklewick Bay. Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte have created a cozy, bookish haven that I wished I could step into. The festive atmosphere is palpable, from Florrie’s delightful decorations to Ed’s enchanting window displays, making it a perfect backdrop for a holiday romance.

As the story unfolds, I found myself invested in Florrie’s determination to create the ultimate Christmas experience, filled with gingerbread hot chocolates and magical sleigh rides. However, Ed’s sudden distance left me feeling a mix of concern and curiosity. The tension surrounding his secret added depth to their relationship, keeping me turning the pages as I tried to unravel the mystery.

When Ed goes missing just days before Christmas, my heart raced. Florrie’s journey to uncover the truth and hold onto her dreams amidst the uncertainty was both emotional and relatable. The themes of love, family, and friendship resonate deeply, reminding me of the importance of connection during the holiday season.

Eliza J. Scott’s writing is beautifully evocative, making me feel the chill of winter while simultaneously warming my heart. This book truly captures the magic of Christmas, and I found myself cheering for Florrie every step of the way.

Overall, Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea is a delightful read that combines romance, mystery, and the festive spirit perfectly. It left me with a smile and a renewed appreciation for the little moments that make the holidays special. I can’t wait to revisit Micklewick Bay again!

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A wholesome and heartwarming story set in the picturesque town of Micklewick Bay. Book four in the series, which I read as a stand-alone. I do wish I had read the previous books just to get myself acquainted with the characters.

A story that is full of all things Christmas, beautiful window displays, fairy lights, mulled wine, ice skating, and snow. As far as the plot goes, nothing much really happens. It's all very pleasant and happy going for the majority of it. I liked it, but it didn't grab me as much as I was hoping. The story encapsulates the Christmas spirit, full of family and friendships, with a good dose of community spirit and some romance in there to.

This story gives you a good serving of what you expect from a cosy, romantic festive story filled with the warmth of Christmas.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for my ARC and to NetGalley.
My opinions are my own

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Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This book was great! I loved the writing style and I loved the characters and their chemistry. I loved the Christmas vibes. Great book!!

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I'll start by saying that I have not read the first book, The Little Bookshop by the Sea, and I think that did me a huge disservice. Without reading that, this book felt scattered and suffering from an identity crisis. Is it a romance? A mystery? Honestly, it was barely either. There are beautiful descriptions in the book, but they didn't seem to add much to the story. I wanted more details on the actual story and less on the town and wardrobe of the characters. Because I feel like I can't accurately review this having not read the initial book, I'm hesitant to post my written review on Goodreads. Instead, I'll simply rate it with stars and hope to not tarnish the author's hype.

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This is the 4th book in the series and whilst it can be read as a stand alone it’s so good you’ll want to read the others so my advice is to get the whole series and settle down for a delightful escapist read. You wont be disappointed.

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Lovely return to Micklewick Bay and the Happy Hartes Bookshop. I loved the happy memories project that Flirrie sets up to create positive memories of Christmas for Ed. Their plans for the bookshop was a big part of the story with the sinister threats of Dodgy Dick casting a shadow over their plans. However, I felt Florrie was a little weak in this one - I just wanted her to talk to Ed and this would have solved most of the problems. Would love a story fid Jasmine next.

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Ever had a book leave you chuckling? One scene in Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott had me laughing out loud and my husband asking what I was laughing at. When I told him, he was rolling with laughter. I could so see that scene happening with our son, even with my husband and his brothers. Granted it was the only scene that had me chortling with laughter, but it was definitely memorable. For a feel good read, pick up this novel.

Releases Oct. 23rd. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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My two favourite things in the title. Christmas and books!! I was hooked from the beginning, I really enjoyed this read. It was cute and gave a nice vibe. Very cozy read. Thank you for an advance copy of this.

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I think you need to read the rest of the series in order to fully enjoy this book. I hadn't and I felt that I was missing lots of info about the characters. It's a slow story, not much happens.

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This can be read as a standalone but probably better to have read the rest of the series as I felt a bit in the dark for huge sections if the book. There were clearly back stories that were skimmed over but for me it took away the enjoyment of this book as I felt I was missing lots of info.
It is also a slow burner and to be honest not much happens in it.

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Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea, the 4th book in Eliza J. Scott's Micklewick Bay series, is a sweet and warm holiday read. Florrie's plan to create lovely Christmas memories to make up for all the good holidays that Ed has missed up to this year is tempered by harassment from an old nemesis who is trying to push the couple into selling their bookshop just as they are showing enough success to look towards a dream expansion. The couple is at an almost perfect point in their relationship when Florrie's trust is challenged, and Ed's communication skills revert to bad family habits that are hard to outgrow. As in real life, the good and the bad travel side by side until one side triumphs, at least for the moment. The couple and their friends are easy to root for, and the villain is easy to boo. In spite of the concerns the tale was fun and filled with holiday cheer.
My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for allowing me to read and review this British holiday delight. I have not read the other books in the series, but I will be checking them out soon.
#NetGalley #StormPublishing #ElizaJScott #MicklewickBay #ChristmasattheLittleBooshipbytheSea

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Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish this book even though I was really excited to start it.
I had to DNF at 45%, as the pacing and character development didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.
That said, I plan to give it another try during the holiday season, and I hope I will be able to connect with the story more deeply then.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!

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4.5 ⭐️. So this is a cozy romance which is a genre
I'm not used to reading but I really liked this couple, their love story, their friends and family, and reading about Christmas time in this picturesque town. I also enjoyed the setting of the bookshop and all its goings on.

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This Christmas themed ARC hit my NetGalley a few days ago, and talk about perfect timing.
There was a chill in air, I needed a blanket to read outside, so I made myself a pot of tea and wrapped up with this quaint, heartwarming tale from Eliza J. Scott.
My first book by her, she has a great way of making me feel like I entered a Gilmore Girls episode, I almost could hear "la la la" in a few scenes.
Yes, this book is like a warm mug of hot chocolate.
Set in the seaside town of Micklewick Bay, Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte own the local bookstore "Happy Hartes Bookshop" (Eliza, how long did it take you come up with that play on words- you ARE MAGICAL!)
When a mysterious phone call comes and Ed starts acting odd, Florrie begins to worry about her relationship. To make matters worse, bookstore events start to go awry, and it seems too coincidental and begs the question: Is someone trying to sabotage Happy Hartes??
This has it all:
Mystery
Light Romance
Silly Antics
A Black Lab you can't help but love...

If like me, you always match your seasons with your TBR, this little nugget should be added. Scheduled for release on October 23rd, keep an eye out for it and get your hot chocolate ready.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and to the author for this read in return for my honest opinion.

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