I enjoyed this book, I read last years 12 Dates of Christmas, so was worried this one would not be as good, but I wasn't disappointed, I liked the characters they were very well written, a lovely start to feeling Christmassy.

I loved this book! It's refreshing to read a book with a female protagonist in their 40's for starters. Annie's a great character. And it's a great story. I particularly liked all the foodie elements, as the cafe is brought back to life. Loved all the seaside characters, and Miss Tiggy Winkle made me laugh. Perfect ending too. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderfully uplifting story which has everything that a reader wants from a feel good light hearted story.

Annie is in her early 40’s, mum to adult twin boys and married to her childhood sweetheart with whom she runs a successful restaurant. What she does not anticipate is walking in and finding him cheating on her with a staff member half her age. To distance herself from him and the situation she takes up a temporary position as custodian of a house on the beach where she finds herself caught up with the locals and falling in love with more than the home she is custodian of.

The characters are beautifully described and make you root for each and every one of them, well apart from love rat husband Max! The descriptions of the seaside are inviting and the slow burning romance between Annie and John is wonderfully told. There is much humour too and the introduction of Mr Knightley is very funny. The perfect romantic comedy and a great follow up to last years The Twelve Dates of Christmas.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Winter of Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss a fantastic five-star read. This was so much, I didn’t always like everyone, there were times when I wanted to shake some characters, but honestly, overall, it was a lovely warm story in the end. I adore Jenny Bayliss as they just create characters who will take you on their journey. Leaving you with warm fuzzies.

Why do so many novels start with an attractive, yet angry and uncooperative man? I knew from the start how it would end…how it must end!
I loved the way Annie and John swore, conversationally - it made it all far less twee, and far more true to life and realistic.
A fab book, I really enjoyed it!

I think Jenny Bayliss is set to be one of my new favourite authors in this genre!
The Winter of Second Chances is a great balance of humour, feel-good warmth and great story-telling.
When Annie finds her husband Max, in their restaurant in a compromising position with a young waitress, she decides she's had enough, and looks to leave their marriage, home and business behind.
Finding the perfect bolt-hole as a winter caretaker of Saltwater Nook on the Kent coast, Annie proceeds to mend her heart. Quickly becoming part of the village community, this story is fresh and engaging. Great characters and you really get a feel for the beautiful, windswept location. Pure escapism from dull winter days.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

I loved this book!

Annie has had enough of her cheating husband Max after catching him with someone else, not the first time he's cheated, but definitely the last time. But they have a very successful restaurant together, so it's hard to leave, but Annie has just had enough and, after replying to an advert, she ends up as a temporary caretaker to a beach house, while she thinks about her future and sorts her finances out. The current elderly owner, Mari, moves to stay with a friend elsewhere as she can't cope with the harsh winters there these days, and leaves her nephew, John, in charge, as he hopes to sell the property to a developer the following year.

The property also has a tea shop below it that has been shut for a while, but of course Annie soons get that opened again, and gets sucked into the village life, where the tea shop used to be a main centre for a lot of events in the past. I really liked Annie's get on with it personality, she managed to split from Max fairly amicably, her sons were great in supporting her to do what she wanted, and she even won grumpy John around!

A really lovely book that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is the second book I've read by Jenny Bayliss, the other one being The Twelve Dates of Christmas, and both have been really great reads.

This book is just so lush to read and has been the perfect escape. I love how it’s written. It has a gorgeous cover and is filled with a mix of superb characters and a great plot.

THE WINTER OF SECOND CHANCES by JENNY BAYLISS.

Annie Sharpe is doing well in life. She owns a successful restaurant, she has two grown up children and a seemingly good marriage
Then she catches her husband up to no good and everything falls apart.
Annie needs a fresh start. So she takes a job as the caretaker of a beachside house on the south coast.
Willow Bay offers Annie the time and space to heal and put her life back together.
Annie enjoys life in Willow Bay and finds she fits comfortably into village life.
It’s not all plain sailing, but can Annie find a second chance at love and life?

Ok, so this story was a little predictable, but that isn’t a bad thing, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable book.
This is a story with heart, a bit of drama, romance and fun.
You can’t help but fall in love with some lovely characters and the wonderful setting of Willow Bay.

A fabulously feel good read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheWinterOfSecondChances by #JennyBayliss.

What makes this book different from the average 'chick lit' is the glimpse , every now and then, of a wry sense of humour. I really loathe the term 'laugh-out -loud' when appleid to a book, but I have to admit to a chuckle or three, just when it's unexpected.......'You had a pebble for a friend?', 'overfamiliar fir tree branches' and best of all, Mrs Tiggs...with her own mobile phone.
Annie and John have a shaky start when they first meet at Saltwater. Annie has taken off after finding her husband Max, with another woman. He comes across as a complete idiot, and I did want annie to take a firmer line with him. She is so supported by her two lovely sons. Her relationship with John grows beautifully and of course the ending is what we hope for.
I loved this book, hope to read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

Ah a lovely Christmas themed book - right up my street! A well written enjoyable novel about moving on and a word of warning, make sure you have a good snack with it as this book will make you ravenous!

Thanks to PanMac Marketing for inviting me to read this.

This is Bayliss's second novel and after really enjoying her first, I snapped up the chance to read this one too. I like how this is a Winter Season novel as opposed to a Christmas book. I like the Halloween festivities to go with the Christmas festivities. This novel is predictable (as I think all chick lit is) when it comes to the romance part of it, but I still found it gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings you want during the winter months! Also made me laugh quite a lot. I definitely want to go to a book club like Annie's!

A thriving restaurant business, two grown sons and a lying, cheating husband. Annie has it all. Over the years she has turned a blind eye to her husbands wandering ways but when confronted with it she leaves.
A new start in a new town, house sitting. Time and distance gives her the courage to end her marriage and move forward.
Not without hiccups, arguments, new friends and a fledgling business of her own.
Cheer Annie on as she rediscovers her self worth and possible romantic encounters.

Annie's journey from the restaurant where she finally faces the truth about her husband to the beautiful beach side cafe is an unusual start for a Christmas novel but don't worry it definitely fulfills the brief! A wonderful, heartwarming romance with a book club, hot chocolate, pumpkins and a wraparound community thrown in for good measure. Settle down in a comfy armchair and be prepared not to move for several very enjoyable hours!

There’s something automatically comforting and inviting about any novel featuring a small seaside community at the heart of which is either a cafe or a restaurant, serving as a welcoming place for all the residents to congregate, connect, converse, commiserate and celebrate. Whether it’s the combination of sea air and appetising images of the culinary fare on offer or the warm generous characters who extend the hand of friendship to newcomers I don’t know but a feeling that all will be right with the world instantly washes over you the minute you begin reading. Basically there’s nothing a good coffee/hot chocolate/glass of wine/homemade biscuits shared with new found friends can’t cure in the type of storyline where the emphasis is on starting over. Jenny Bayliss seduces her readers with the promise of all this and more with a wintry tale that is often as witty as it is warm. This is a storyline that’s like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket on a chilly winter’s night, wearing your favourite pjs, your head sinking into the softest, fluffiest pillows, your spirits soaring with every turn of the page.

Annie Sharpe is ready to grab her second chance at happiness when she swaps her married life for singledom, turning her back on The Pomegranate Seed, the restaurant she and husband Max have built up from scratch in favour of assuming temporary guardianship of Saltwater Nook, Willow Bay. This charming, quaint residence is owned and loved by the elderly Mari and it’s the perfect bolt hole for forty something Annie, a safe haven of peace and tranquility where she can lick the wounds inflicted by the self serving Max and take a well earned rest, rethink her future and possibly emerge a new woman, rejuvenated and ready to take on a new challenge.

Well I was immediately won over by this idyllic fictional setting inspired (I believe) by places along the Thanet coast. Memories of childhood day trips and holidays to Broadstairs resurfaced and even though I live in a seaside city I found myself longing to be part of this community which embraces Annie with open arms. In Willow Bay it would seem the spirit of all for one and one for all is well and truly alive, a network of support, kindness, and friendship in full swing amongst the majority of residents. There’s an underlying respect for tradition and desire to preserve the history of the place, particularly Saltwater Nook which has always been at the centre of Willow Bay. The arrival of Annie certainly helps to cement these feelings as she takes it upon herself to breathe new life into her surroundings, despite the fact her presence may only be short lived. There’s only so much inactivity Annie can tolerate before she needs to get her hands busy again! Any excuse for a party and everyone comes out of the woodwork, keen to jump on board helping with the organisation of major celebrations like Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Christmas festivities. Willow Bay is where it’s all happening! The joy these characters find in the simple things in life is infectious and the pleasure they get from paying their kindness forward is touching. I found myself swept along on a wave of happiness, feeling lighter and brighter for engaging with characters who bring out the best in each other.

They are a good assortment too from the outspoken but hilarious Maeve, to the private yet helpful ,homeless handyman Alfred to Mari’s nephew John Granger who’s responsible for ruffling a few feathers. Annie’s fellow book club members who include Maeve, Gemma and Sally add a sense of fun and sauciness to the narrative. I was impressed by their choice of titles and the speed at which they manage to get through them! The errant Max is constantly hovering in the background like a bad smell but Saltwater Nook has given Annie a new found strength and confidence to finally deal with his wily ways. She’s brave to strike out on her own but it soon becomes obvious she’s worth a 100 of Max! This woman is a go getter and she’s quickly finding her feet in a place that she feels privileged to call home.

I loved the good humoured banter between these characters which raises plenty of smiles and laughter too. Besides this there’s romance and the usual predictable mix of mild tension and bumps in the road but these are minor hurdles to overcome compared to the drama that draws the time in Willow Bay to a close. I wasn’t prepared for that! If I have any negative comments to make it’s that I found the ending to be overly dramatic and a trifle unbelievable although it fits in well with the history of the area. Also the second chances theme is such a popular and familiar thread explored by writers of this genre it can sometimes lose its shine, unless the characters truly stand out. On this occasion I think I fell in love with the setting and the ideal vision of such a close knit, inclusive community rather than the characters per se. That said Jenny Bayliss’s second novel is as enjoyable as her first. The Winter of Second Chances is a lovely, uncomplicated, lightweight piece of escapism, It is a soothing balm that gives you permission to unwind, relax and let your mind float free of all worries and stress (if only temporarily!) and don’t we all need that from time to time? Take a chance on this novel and you might find yourself wishing you could escape to Willow Bay whose restorative powers are most impressive!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I read the authors debut novel The Twelve Dates of Christmas and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. It didn't disappoint.

Annie is such a great character I liked her right from the start and I loved Saltwater Nook and the whole community.

I was so drawn into the book that I found myself shouting out loud "No" at Annie during one of her encounters with her estranged husband Max, you'll have to read the book to guess which one! I also read well into the night to finish the book as the last few chapters got really exciting.

I could say so much about the book like what happened with Max, what led Annie to be at Saltwater Nook, who is Mr Knightley and why is John jealous ... but really wouldn't want to spoil it for anybody.

This is a perfect rom com winter read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

I read The 12 Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss as an ARC last year and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was really looking forward to this one and it certainly did not disappoint.

Annie is a brilliant character and we meet her just as the life she has worked so hard for is changed drastically thanks to her narcissist of a husband. I connected with Annie immediately and she comes across as such a realistic person, far from perfect but doing her best for her family. She made me feel like it’s never too late to try something new and like I could do anything if I just put my mind to it.

The new friendships she makes along her journey of re-discovering herself are heartwarming and the costal town that she settles in was so well described that I desperately want to visit, even in the deep depths of winter.

I really enjoyed the inclusivity of the supporting characters and each character had a well developed personality and fitted into the story perfectly. Annie built up such a community of true friends and it was so nice to see her able to be happy and settled again.

I loved the bookclub and how it was something that tied the friends together, it was beautiful to read and had me laughing out loud on many occasions.

Another fabulous read from Jenny Bayliss and I would definitely recommend it. It’s a perfect book for curling up with on a cold and wet weekend with a hot cup of tea or a creamy hot chocolate.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the electronic advanced readers copy.

A thoroughly enjoyable cosy read with a good mix of humour and warm heartedness. A good set of well drawn, some fairly eccentric, characters and atmospheric descriptions of an East Kent coastal town in winter. Slightly unbelievable in places and also somewhat predictable in others but a good plot nonetheless with plenty going on. A definite feelgood factor all round with winter storms battering not only my home as I read this book, but also the setting of the novel..

Annie and Max have been married for nearly 30 years. They have a very successful restaurant, where Annie is the award winning chef. But Max is a serial adulterer, Annie knows about his past affairs but when faced, quite literally, with evidence of his latest fling she decides she has had enough.
Mari lives in Willow Bay, a tiny coastal community. Her home is Saltwater Nook, a tiny cottage with lots of history built at the end of the promenade. It was also a restrooms but Mari, who is in her 90s, gave that up some years ago. Her nephew, John has persuaded Mari to spend the winter with her friend in Cornwall where life will be easier for her. He wants to look after his aunt and give her the comforts he feels she deserves but to do thus Saltwater Nook must be sold and John has agreed to sell to a developer.
Mari wants her home to be looked after until she decides that she really cannot live there again. Answering Mari' s advert for a house sitter changes Annie's life and gives her new friends as she becomes part of Willow Bay's warm and close knit community.
This is a warm and very enjoyable read. I liked all of the characters, especially grumpy Alfred and spiky Maeve.

I absolutely loved this authors previous book so I was really excited to get stuck into this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It was a beautiful read with a relatable main character Annie who needs to rediscover life again after dealing with an unfaithful husband and the stress of running her own business and putting everyone else’s needs before her own. This was so much more than a winter escapism read and took the reader on a journey of self discovery leading to Annie finding her way again and a new purpose in life all amongst the back drop of beautiful scenery and beaches and a delightful community of people. I wanted to move to the Kent coast and experience it through Annie’s eyes by the end of the book as sounded like a perfect place to live.