This is the absolute best cozy read for winter. It's the ideal book to curl up in your favorite chair, with your favorite fuzzy blanket, and a piping hot cup of tea. The characters are so amazing that you are sad to leave them at the end. The storyline keeps you entertained until the end. Magic, romance, and cozy all rolled into one. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next book.

Have you ever wanted to enjoy a Christmas Hallmark movie with Fae involved? If so, look no further than this cozy fantasy read that is out just in time for the holiday season. I did not want to leave the setting of this book for even a moment.

Elsie is a wonderful FMC who believes a cuppa tea will fix anything. Her first meeting with Kit is adorable and made me chuckle out loud and truly sets the tone for the rest of the story. Together Kit and Elsie adventure to the wild north where the Fae and supernaturals reside. The relationship between these two is so sweet and felt completely natural. The dual POV between the two characters is top-notch. Ms. Sandiford does such a seamless job switching between the two characters and their personalities come front and center with each shift.

This book doesn't have a lot of in-your-face action which fits the theme. There aren't a lot of highs or lows in this book but despite being relatively even-keeled it kept me intrigued the whole time. I usually need high-action, fast-paced books but I truly enjoyed this softer, cozy read. The pace fits the story and I loved every moment I was in this world.

This book has no spice and yet the romance is some of the best! The one bed, one room was absolutely amazing. I loved the hidden royalty aspect and would love to see more between Kit and Anders! Their banter was so on point for siblings I just needed a little more! I think that's my only "gripe" about this book is that I just want more. I feel like this book only scratched the surface of each of the problems faced and I would have liked more on each point. The story behind finding Tia, the father, even the King and Queen; all surface level and I just needed a bit more to the story.
Regardless, I still loved it and hope this isn't the last time we get to visit!

Winterfrost Market is a cozy read that follows a girl on a low-stakes hunt for her missing mom through a magical town with a fae companion.

The town of Midwinter Haven is charming and enchanting, which I always appreciate, and I would have loved to see more focus on its magic.

While the romance between Elise and Kit had potential, I found it a bit rushed, making it hard for me to connect with their relationship. I often felt detached from the plot and characters, as they seemed somewhat one-dimensional. This might be perfect for readers seeking a light and easy read.

Overall, the setting was super cute, and I loved the premise of the plot, but for me, it could have been developed in a more engaging way. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy fantasy read with predictable storylines.

Thank you to Velikor Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received a free copy through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it

I DNF'd this one a few chapters in. I really liked the sound of this one and I love the cozy fantasy genre. I just couldn't get into this one. I've been struggling to find the right books for my mood so that's part of it. Something about the writing style didn't work for me. I also was confused at first how old the characters were as they sounded young, but the circumstances made me think they were older and they turned out to be in their early twenties. The main characters were okay, but nothing really outstanding that made me want to read more.

ozy and comforting, Winterfrost Market takes its readers on adventures through snow-kissed forests and magical markets, making it worthy of one's winter TBR.

As the Midwinter festival approaches, readers follow Elsie as she runs her family's traveling tea house while simultaneously trying to unravel the mystery of why her mother hasn't returned from her recent trip to Midwinters Haven. Luckily for Elsie, a dashing outsider named Kit is willing to escort her to the last known location of her mother—a fabled and magical land to the north. Against her better judgment, Elsie follows Kit into a world she's only ever heard tales of—a world brimming with magic and intrigue.

The story is sweet and simple, with just enough atmosphere and heart to leave readers smiling. It was the sort of tale that I was giddy to jump into each morning as I started a small smudge in our fireplace, with its crackling fires and steaming cups of your favorite tea. It's filled with secret Fae princes and winter markets touched by magic. So I ask you, friends, will you be going to the market?

In all fairness, I don't think Winterfrost Market is a book that will linger in my memory for years to come. I don't say that in a negative way, though; I simply don't think it needed to tick that box to achieve its goal. That is to say, this story kind of exists in that time between Christmas and New Year’s. Will you remember what you did during that time next year? Maybe not, but you will certainly think back on it with warmth and love.

With this book, we are brought into an olde world setting (no electricity or running water, inns & taverns with simple faire), where there is a land about a day's travel away where there is rumored to be fae, witches, vampires, werewolves, etc. (as well as running water and electricity, courtesy of fae magic). We meet Elsie, the daughter of a woman who runs a tea cart, and Kit, a traveler who loves birds. Elsie's mom has been missing and she needs to travel to the land of supposed magic, so Kit is roped into helping her.

There were certainly many things to like about this. It has a very lighthearted, cozy feel throughout. There is some chemistry between Kit and Elsie, and you can't help but enjoy their characters, as well as several that pop up throughout.

The problem I had with this, though, was it felt very surface for so much of the story, even when it was meant to have depth. It was TOO light, to the point where the author seemed to feel the depth had to be explained. There were so many times where I wanted to stop being TOLD things and just wanted them to be revealed. Even the things that didn't need explanations got them. For instance, a character gets a hug from a friend and we are told something along the lines of "A hug can make anyone feel comforted." Or a character grabs something and we get a paragraph explaining "He had several. He didn't really even need so many. He just bought them because he could.'

Which brings me to my other grievance: The writing is clunky. The dialogue and what is meant to be the thoughts of the characters are both so wooden and don't flow well the majority of the time. Conversations between characters are volleys of one sentence and then another, which feels very unnatural. It was very difficult to actually care about the characters, as it just pulls you out.

Elsie, in particular, was difficult to warm up to. She started out feeling very naive and fickle, and then seemed to mature, but then she just went right back. It felt like she was reacting a certain way just as a plot device, but it was hard to see her lose the growth she seemed to have done.

The overall story is enjoyable enough for a quick read with a cup of tea. Just expect to suspend disbelief, and think of it like a fantasy Hallmark story.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Jenny Sandiford for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Elsie works a traveling tea shop with her mother and sister. After her mother fails to returns from a trip to the magical lands of Midwinter Haven, Elsie enlists the help of Kit, a tracker who is keeping many secrets, to accompany her on a quest to find her mother. Journey from the mortal lands to the magical town of MidWinter Haven, where fae, vampires and witches all live in harmony but just outside its borders is a Fae King who wants to destroy it all. Maybe Elsie and Kit can save more than just her mother.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The story was sweet and fun with a little mystery and suspense. Elsie and Kit are very likeable characters, but Kits dog Pepper really stole my heart. This book will be perfect for those cold winter days, curled up by the fire with a hot tea, while watching it snow. Winterfrost Market is sure to be a favorite this winter!

#WinterfrostMarket #NetGalley

A cute, clean cozy fantasy!

I personally didn't connect with the writing or the characters all that much- cozy fantasy is very hit or miss for me, but I could tell that this was a sweet story!

This story was full of holiday atmosphere, the landscape, buildings and townspeople adding a perfect backdrop for the story of Elsie and Kit. Elsie is the daughter of a traveling tea shop owner who is spurred onto a journey to find her mother who has gone missing on a trip to gather shop supplies. Kit is hired to be her travel companion and assist in finding Elsie's mom. Kit hides his true identity and has his own reasons for traveling which put both him and Elsie in danger. Throughout their days long journey they learn to help and eventually care for each other, but both Kit and Elsie have family problems that threaten to keep them from being happy together.
I loved the first half of the book; getting to know Elsie and her family, Kit, Pepper and some of the proprietors of the village. However, I found the second half a challenge as Kit's brother. Anders, was brought into the story. In my mind he was not fleshed out enough to make Kit's and Elsie's reactions to him believable. The plot took a drastic turn from where I imagined and it became hard to understand the reasoning behind the actions and responses of Kit, Elsie and Anders; the reactions of the village people also seemed uncharacteristic for the circumstances. I was so distracted by everyone's seemingly irrational actions that it was hard to enjoy the rest of the story. In the end, the story did resolve in a more positive, understandable manner. Despite the challenges I found it a story worth reading.

This is very cute & exceptionally cozy. I would have liked a little more world building, but for a short book that I read in one sitting, it is a delight.

If you are looking for a cosy Fantasy read with romance and mystery in it, don’t look any further. I loved the setting, characters and mystery elements. Elsie runs a cosy family’s tea house. The town is cosy and quaint. Waiting for her mother to come back but she has gone missing since the trip of the Midwinter Haven. There are myths and stories about dark magic and fae. When her mother doesn’t show up and she doesn’t hear anything from her, Elsie decides to venture on an odyssey to find her mother herself though not only the secrets and buried truth comes out but she also meet Kit and not able to decide if he is genuinely good or not. She has been taught to not trust fae. He is harbouring a secret she is oblivion to. I felt the characters were warm and setting is so cosy and perilous. This was such a good cosy holiday fantasy read.

Thanks to the Author and Publisher.

I truly loved this story. It reminded me of fairy tales I would read when I was younger. Its a feel-good cozy romantasy with an adventure that takes the main character somewhere they did not expect in the end.
There were so many sweet moments between the characters, and I cant wait to see what comes next in the series.

If you’re in the mood for a cozy, fantasy-filled adventure with a hint of romance, Winterfrost Market really fits the bill. This book follows Elsie, who helps run her family’s traveling tea shop, a quaint business that brings magical brews to the charming (and sometimes mysterious) town of Winterfrost. But when Elsie's mom goes missing on a trip to the dangerous Midwinter Haven—a place supposedly crawling with magical creatures—Elsie doesn’t think twice about embarking on a journey to bring her back. Alongside Kit, a tracker with more secrets than he lets on, Elsie begins to uncover a world that’s far more magical and complex than she ever imagined.

🌟 Rating: 4/5

The Good: This was the perfect book for a single-sitting, cozy read. The story was simple but held my interest with its quick pace and beautiful descriptions. The world of Winterfrost is enchanting and atmospheric—so much that I wanted to explore every corner. Plus, the budding connection between Elsie and Kit was adorable; their banter was a lovely break from some of the darker themes.

What I Wanted More Of: I found myself wishing for a bit more backstory to immerse in the world fully. It felt like we were dropped into the Winterfrost universe without much context, which left some of the lore and magic feeling a bit thin. Also, I would have loved to know more about Elsie’s relationship with her mom. It’s a central part of the story, but without flashbacks or moments that explain their bond, it was hard to feel the urgency of her mission.

Final Thoughts: Overall, I enjoyed Winterfrost Market for what it was: a cozy, quick read that had a bit of magic, a bit of romance, and plenty of wintry charm. I’m hoping the next book in the series gives us more depth, especially with the characters and the worldbuilding. But for now, if you’re looking for something lighthearted that gives off all the magical winter vibes, this one’s a great pick!

This book was under 250 pages and it still took me forever to read because I just couldn’t get into it. I think the biggest issues I had was how stilted the conversation was, and the characters all felt flat. Another reviewer likened this to a Barbie and the Nutcracker movie, and I agree that it had that vibe.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a lovely escape this book provided! I am happy to have discovered the "cozy fantasy" genre last year, and this book is a nice addition to that group. With all that is going on in our world, it was really nice to be able to forget everything and just enjoy this story. The novel is well written and the characters are well developed, in my opinion. I will suggest that our library purchase this title-I think there are several patrons that would enjoy it.

I liked Elsie and Kits story. The fine line between Fae and Human is so blurry but this was wonderful. Elsie's strength and Kits responsibility make for a great combination.

Elsie’s mom is unexpectedly gone longer than expected when she leaves to find the secret magical ingredient for the family’s tea houses special tea blend so Elsie hires kit to help her find her mom. Their search takes them to the magical town of midwinter haven where all magical species live in harmony, bordered by the winter fae kingdom.

This was just okay for me. It was cute for sure but it felt more like a draft than a final product. The dialogue didn’t feel natural and the characters didn’t really seem to show any sort of reasonable critical thinking skills.

Filled with fantasy, adventure, and all the cozy vibes a reader can hope for. Perfect for fans of Legends & Latte, Sandiford creates a quaint tale filled with romance and a good cup of tea.

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley and Author Jenny Sandiford. This book was true in-depth storytelling I felt like I was on the snowy adventure with them the characters felt realistic. I love that she went on the hunt for her mother at any cost. I am a lover of tea, cozy vibes and books that take my imagination on a ride. It reminded me of the movie Frozen and I’m not mad about it. I enjoyed the slow burn of romance between Elsie and Kit as the book continued. This was my first cozy magical fantasy book experience and it did not disappoint.

ARC Review: Winterfrost Market by Jenny Sandiford

This review is 100% my own and is my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🚫🌶️

I loved the vibes of this book with the traditional Christmas markets, the tea shops and all together cozy vibes.

The way the author portrays fae is unique and made the book feel more like a fairytale. The mix of vampires, witches, dwarves and fae was so fun and definitely made the book stand out.

I loved Elsie as a FMC and felt like i could relate to her when it came to her close family relationship and also her love of tea lol. I love that she accepted others and was open minded when it came to magic.

Kit was my favourite character in the book and as the MMC he was amazing. I loved seeing his growth, sacrifice and his love for Elsie. He was selfless, funny and adorable which i loved.

I would have loved to have seen more of Kit's brother, Anders, as i feel his story was one of the most interesting in the book.

I devoured this book however there were a few aspects I didn't like. In the first 1/3 of the book I felt the dialogue was forced and I didn't like the abbreviation of words which reminded me of pirates, this thankfully didn't continue through the book and made it much more enjoyable. I also felt the ending fell slight short, I wish got to see more of a spectacle of Midwinter and then in the very end with Kit and Elsie finally settled.

I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves clean romance, Christmas markets and books that feel like fairytales.