Oh my! Where do I start? When I heard Annette Hannah had written a book and was asked to be part of the cover reveal for it I couldn’t wait to read it, the cover is just gorgeous. Oh boy and when I did read it it was good - everything I hoped for and more.

The story centres around Lucy a single parent to an adorable son Jackson. They have gone to stay in her grandads cottage - Railway Cottage to be close to him whilst he recuperated from an illness. It kills two birds with one stone and has come at just the right time for Lucy who is looking for a fresh start, she’s bit the bullet and is setting up a new venture as a Wedding Planner. Stepping into her grandads cottage is like shrugging on a cozy coat for Lucy - it rekindles all of the happy times spent there as a child visiting both her grandparents. She also feels a semblance of guilt because she hasn’t visited as often as she should have since her gran passed her way and since she had Jackson to care for.

Wedding Bells at the Signal Box Cafe is an absolutely delightful read. Annette has created characters that are diverse, colourful and totally believable. The adventures that Jackson and Baxter the family dog go on are nothing compared to the antics that Lucy’s granddad gets up to with Violet another resident in the home where Douglas Lucy’s grandad is staying. She is also the grandmother as it happens of Lucy’s childhood crush Dom, brother of her childhood best friend Abbie.

The story flips back and forth between the various characters as Lucy finds her feet and decides to also set up in business with her grandad to renovate the old Railway Signal Box that is no longer used but, owned by her Grandad - he was the signalman when Lucy was young and it’s a place of happy memories for them both.

This book has it all it has there’s lots of hearts and flowers and romance as you’d expect but there’s also serious aspects to the story that are tempered by total hilarity. It was a dream reading this and brought back so many memories of my childhood too. I travelled on a train from the village where I lived with a few other children to another town every school day and on the way home if we managed to get on the platform early enough before our train was due the signalman would let us into the signal box to help pull the levers for the train going the other way. Winters evenings eating scouse, which ironically I ate only last week - proper homely comfort food; just like this book -comforting, warm and totally delightful. There was plenty going on and the descriptions are so vivid it wasn’t hard to imagine myself popping into the Signal Box cafe or strolling along the tow path.

Annette you’ve nailed it an amazingly wonderful read that I highly recommend - now when’s your second going to be published?

Perfect romcom!
This had all the right ingredients for a gorgeously sweet feel good read!
Great characters, friendship, lots of giggles and a few tears! I particularly liked Dom as a brooding love interest, Lucy was strong and believable.
The story lines were all engaging and enjoyable.
I'd definitely visit the Flamingo's Leg and the Grape Escape- great names!!

I can’t believe that this is Annette Hannah’s debut, this was just a perfect read, I am also excited because it means I have a brand new go to author. This was just everything I love in a book, romance, community, adorable main characters, great supporting characters you love just as equally, but of drama and angst, but just a fabulous story you don’t want to put down. I was sad when it was over, as knowing it’s a debut I can’t go to the authors back catalogue. I eagerly look forward to so many more perfect happy reads to come.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I read many, many romance books every year – I do choose fairly carefully, and as a result thoroughly enjoy almost every one. But every so often a new author comes along, and with their very first book a little magic happens – that’s how I felt about this gorgeous debut from Annette Hannah, and I can honestly say that it’s one of my favourites this year. At heart it’s a fairly classic story of love developing from the most unpromising of beginnings, but the absolute joy is both in its telling and in the many extra layers the author adds to the story.

The relationship between Lucy and eight-year-old son Jackson is quite beautifully portrayed, overflowing with love, when they arrive for a stay in their grandfather’s home of Railway Cottage in the market town of Bramblewood: they’re accompanied by their large shaggy and enthusiastic dog Baxter, and are hoping for their fresh start. You might already know that I’m sometimes not too much of a fan of young children in books, but Jackson – as he pushed up his loose glasses and sighed for his absent father – entirely won my heart.

The initial plan is for a wedding planning business (and I will admit it’s not the first time I’ve read about that this year…), working with childhood friend and photographer Abbie to provide a complete package – and that’s where the “wedding bells” come in. But then Lucy has the vision of turning the signal box where her grandfather once worked into a cafe, a unique venue for her weddings and so much more – and sets about the considerable challenge of doing just that.

Meanwhile her grandfather Dougie is staying at Sycamore Lodge nursing home, getting back on his feet after a fall and with a few other health problems: that’s a location and wider cast of characters that provides a really rich vein for a lot of the book’s humour, and quite a few of the loveliest moments along the way. But the relationship between Dougie and the young family is something rather special too – there are so many scenes and interactions that really warm the cockles of your heart. Dougie’s one of those rarities in some of the books I read – a believable older character, no stereotyping, and his own story provides a rather lovely reminder that later life can be real fun and that it’s never too late for its pleasures to catch you unawares.

And then there’s Cam – Abbie’s brother, Lucy’s childhood friend, and now a hotshot divorce lawyer. He’s distinctly hot to look at (especially when you catch one of those rare smiles), but he really does need to loosen up and relax a little. And, of course, that’s what happens – very slowly, and with a few reversals – and the unlikely romance that develops is strong, believable, and makes you feel particularly warm and fuzzy. And should you be looking for even more warm fuzziness, just wait for his interactions with young Jackson… there’s one in particular that drives a little bit of the action and it makes you want to laugh and cry all at the same time.

Those are just the main characters – but every one in the supporting cast, no matter how peripheral, is just perfectly drawn. The book’s setting is just wonderful too. I have no idea where the fictional town of Bramblewood is – I do know it’s an easy commute on the train to London – but I really think I’d like to live there too. There’s a wonderful sense of place – I loved the walk along the canal, Rosie’s cafe boat, the art gallery, Flowerpots garden centre, and that perfect feeling of community that I always think makes a book particularly special. The emotional touch is just right throughout too – there’s plenty of humour, all so well done, but also a lot of tenderness and poignancy, a combination that makes the whole book so thoroughly enjoyable and feel-good.

And the whole idea of bringing the signal box back to life and giving it new purpose is so different and original – the whole process of getting it up and running is a fascinating enterprise, filled with the most perfect touches of detail that I really must leave you to discover for yourself.

This was the loveliest book. There are times when you can tell that a book is a debut, an author feeling their way, searching for their own voice – but this is an author who’s already hit her comfortable stride, with real confidence and fluency to the writing. Beautifully done, and really highly recommended – this is a book I’m more than happy to shout about, and will do so for some time to come.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

This is the debut book by Annette Hannah. I love a book with a pretty cover and this one appealed to me. Also, it was about different building than the usual teashop or cafe. Good luck with it Annette.

This is the debut book by Annette Hannah.

The beautiful cover gained my attention for this one and I felt like it would be something different to read about a signal box cafe. The story focuses on Lucy, her son Jackson and their dog Baxter. They move into the village to help care for Lucy's grandad and has signal box house on his land. Together Lucy and her Grandad plan to turn it into a cafe with help from some friends. Lucy is also a wedding planner.

For me the story started out great but then as I was reading I felt that parts of the story were partly rushed and dealt with quickly or just didn't seem to add up. There were lot's elements to the story which I think made it a little busy at times and I also thought some parts were a bit to descriptive. I loved the antic's of Lucy's Grandad and his friends and the care home, they definitely added a fun element to the book but for me there was just something missing from gripping me to the book like I hoped.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC to read and review this.

First of all I was attracted to this book by the beautiful cover and then my attention was grabbed by the engaging prologue and my attention was held by the great characters in Violet and Douglas who were a great advert for late life love. I loved that they became rebels and were constantly getting into trouble. I also totally loved Dom - very Mr Darcy and his relationship with Jackson was great. The plot is very much will-they-won't they and I so wanted to visit the signal box cafe and its little trains. The story was gripping and especially towards the end when Jackson goes missing it was very dramatic.
However, there were things I didn't particularly get - Why would Greg do what he did in a village where his wife and children lived and where Jackson went to school with his son? Also the idea of his wife booking the party at the signal box cafe and he didn't think he was going to get caught out! And then for Jane and Lucy to become friends !! It just didn't fit well for me. This leads me to my biggest issue - Lucy herself. Despite everyone telling her she was a great mum, she didn't go into school knowing that Jackson was being bullied for not having a dad, had a go at Dom for helping when he confided in him and didn't question why Jackson didn't speak to her, never seemed to know where he was and more importantly was willing to deny Jackson the chance to know his dad out of spite or resentment.
Overall, I found this an enjoyable read but with some deep flaws for me. 3.5 stars.

Really enjoyed this clean small town story, the joys of being a single mum and starting up a new business, amidst the will they won’t they of an young love, throw in a dog and 8 yr old., and you have a great little holiday read. If I was being picky my only niggle was Jackson acted a little immature for an 8yr old at times, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will read this author again.

I kept seeing reviews of this book on Twitter and was thrilled when I saw that it was available on NetGalley.
I make no secret of my love for happy endings and I can confirm that this lovely book delivers by the barrowload!
I must say, there’s a lot of story in this book and Annette Hannah handles it perfectly. Nothing felt rushed at all, in fact, it was wonderful to discover such depth in a debut novel.
The stars of the show were the grandparents, Dougie and Violet, and Jackson, Lucy’s young son.
The simplicity of the café conversion was totally believable, I would love to visit such a place.
I thoroughly enjoyed the gentleness in Lucy and Dominic’s love story, nothing felt rushed although it was clear that they were destined to be together and, that kiss! Wow.
I read this book in two sittings and loved everything about it. If you are thinking of buying it, please do so. I can’t wait to read more.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
Lucy Woods moves to the countryside with her son to be near her Grandad,

She’s has always dreamed of running her very own wedding venue. Now she’s surprised to find the perfect place and location to set this up.

Her best friend Abbie is also eager to help her make that dream a reality. Just a thorn In this is Abbie’s brother Dom. Who thinks it’s not going to last, another stupid ideas.

Dominic, whose a divorce lawyer, and he’s not into love at first sight or wedding vows, in his job he's seen them broken more times than he can count. Will Lucy change his thinking?

Lucy knows that to make her dream come true is a huge matter but she also knows that The Signal Box Cafe is big opportunity to make something of life.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, would recommend it.