A Winter's Dream

This is the perfect holiday read. I adored Liberty the main character, totally relatable and great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it gave me all the Christmas feels. I honestly related to Liberty quite a lot ways so I really warmed to her instantly. I loved reading about her transformation from this person who was so safe in her secure life to a risk taker who wasn't afraid to live a little, get out of her comfort zone a bit and figure out what she wanted out of life. Alex's growth during the book was wonderful too and the ending just made me so happy. It was such a light-hearted, touching book which I'm sure I'll read again in the run up to Christmas in the future.

Liberty lives a very ordered life, which is thrown into chaos by the arrival of a lodger, Alex who is an impulsive French motorbike racer whose career has been cut short by a serious crash. Can each teach the other something of the benefits of their style of living?
With series such as this you can catch up with characters from previous books whilst being introduced to new ones to keep it fresh. I probably have more in common with Liberty than Alex, but can see that she needs to get out of her rut. Seeing how they both gradually come to appreciate the other's approach to life. The descriptions of the countryside both here and in Provence made me wish I could visit. With a couple of story threads promising more in this series I am really looking forward to reading those as well. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Liberty lives alone with her cheeky Labrador Charlie and works in a quilting/sewing shop. Sadly her best friend is in a coma and on her 30th birthday, Liberty realises she has become very lonely and is not living her best life. She decided to challenge herself to take risks and do something new every day in December. As part of that challenge, she takes in a lodger Alex, tries online dating, has a ride on a motorbike, and much more throughout the month.

Alex is French and comes to the UK to try and find his half-sister. He is also struggling to come to terms with an injury following his own accident.

I am pleased to see that mental health is being brought into more modern fiction now. The subject of panic attacks and agoraphobia are handled in this book with sensitivity, but also made to seem that they are part of the norm. I feel that this makes it easier for people to talk about in real life like people shouldn't be ashamed for suffering from this illness.

A Winter's Dream is very easy to read, and cosy in the lead up to Christmas. I loved how the characters stressed how nice it was to make and receive handmade gifts at Christmas. A lovely story of friendships, family, and pushing your boundaries.

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

This book is perfect to read anything not just for Christmas.

Liberty, leads a safe life in her cottage with a loveable dog named Charlie. On her birthday, yet again she receives a bunch of flowers from a mystery person, and she can’t figure out who that is.

Then, as she’s fed up of doing things that are safe, she decides to change things up a bit, she wants to do this by challenging herself to say YES to anything for a whole month.

By challenging herself, she gets to experience lots of new things, things she’s never done before, one of them being taking in a lodger.

Alex, the lodger she takes in don’t hit it off from the start. But as time goes on the friendship develops, and Alex helps her in achieving her daily goal in saying YES to a different experience.

Slowly, they both start to open up to each other, and to the possibility of love and life.

But will Alex be able to move on from his past and realise what’s he’s missing???

Absolutely loved this book one I could not put down.
I do so love Sophie's way of writing she transports s the reader to the place and it is like you are actually there.I
This is about Liberty who is very careful with everything and Alex who is a daredevil. Both looking for something special.
A wonderful uplifting story.

Gosh I loved this story. The opening was clever and it kept you guessing all the way through. You knew Liberty would fall in love but not in the way it was writen. A very clever love story. I liked the challenges and the thrill of the motorbikes and the sewing aspect. Just loved it

A lovely read perfect for anytime not just Christmas! slightly predictable but in a good way that leads to the perfect outcome! Liberty leads a predictable orderly safe existence in her cottage with her lovable dog Charlie,however after receiving yet another bunch of flowers from a secret admirer she decides to shake things up a bit by challenging herself to say yes to anything for a month! This leads to her experiencing lots of new things including taking a lodger in! Alex the lodger and Liberty don’t get off to a good start but as time progresses their friendship develops and blossoms as Alex helps her achieve her daily goal and in doing so helps himself too! Through a mutual understanding and realisation they both start to heal and open themselves up to love, laughter and life!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

I loved this book. The characters were so realistic and yes we all know what's going to happen in the end, it is a romance novel after all, but what's most important is the journey not the destination, and the journey was so gripping I literally finished this in one sitting. I was rooting for the main characters throughout and they were so well written you felt for both of them and they were really likeable. I'll be looking out for further books by this author