This is such a lovely and moving story of love, loss and overcoming heartbreak. Hollie’s always enjoyed the tradition on Bonfire Night of putting up the Christmas tree and decorations in her mum’s cafe. But after suffering from several tragedies, Christmas is now a difficult time and one she’d rather forget. Jake has always found the time between Bonfire Night and Christmas hard to cope with due to losing certain people in his life. Both Hollie and Jake find it hard to move on in their lives. But when Jake finds a lost shi tzu, he turns to Hollie for help, could the lone dog help the two strangers to connect?

This is a lovely and rather moving story set in a seaside town near Christmastime. I enjoyed the story from the start although the beginning was filled with a lot of the past from both Hollie and Jake’s stories. The book is narrated from both Hollie’s and Jake’s point of view with chapters usually alternating between the two. I liked getting to know Hollie and Jake. Both of them have rather sad moments and tragedies in their pasts which helped to shape their personalities today. For Hollie it’s tragedies surrounding her once happy family Christmases. For Jake it’s things that happened around his family, particularly sad moments around his birthday.

As the story progresses we learn more and more about how both Hollie and Jake find it hard to open up and be close to people. I like how both of them have very different stories but share this common thread and how they start to become closer and closer over time. The dog in this book is really cute and I just love the names that this dog ends up having, especially the extra long name which made me laugh. The dog really helps make this story more special for me and I love how he’s involved throughout the tale and adds some heart-warming and funny moments to what is actually quite a moving and sadder story than I first realised when I began reading it. Although the story is overall a good one and is generally an ultimately happy story, it’s filled with such tragic moments for both Hollie and Jake that it made certain moments emotional to read. Both Hollie and Jake have had horrible things happen to them, including losing loved ones, and reading about what happened to both of them, though not overly descriptive, still felt rather sad and moving at times.

I love what happens in the story though and I have to say that although I loved all of the characters, it’s Jake who I loved the most. What he’s overcome through childhood and how things move on for him felt particularly satisfying to read and I love how the whole story wraps up with a lovely ending that makes you feel so happy to have read the characters’ journeys. There is the odd f and s swear word and some mentions of abusive behaviour and sex, but it’s nothing graphic and just helps to set an understanding for what each of the characters has gone through. The story mentions and features the RNLI at some point and I just loved what happens to the characters involved in that and how some of the money from this book is going to a local RNLI charity.

Overall this was a lovely story that I enjoyed reading and really has such a satisfying ending. The atmosphere in the story, both the sea and the atmosphere of the cafe was so lovely and a wonderful contrast and I really enjoyed all of the characters including some of the minor ones who appeared in the story. I also really loved Pickle who just made me smile so much. This is a little different to some cosy contemporary romances I’ve read. It’s definitely a more emotional read with some sadder moments to read through, but it ultimately has a really lovely, satisfying and happy ending, and the whole story was a joy to read!

Such a beautiful story that really moved me!
The way the story was written to reveal the deep love Hollie had with her family and the childhood trauma of Jake was very cleverly done rather than just stating what happened, the twists & events really packed an impact and it was very emotional.
I absolutely adored Mr Pickles, a cute dog that stole everyone's hearts.

This book is told from the dual perspectives of the two main characters Hollie and Jake during the period between Bonfire Night in November up to Christmas. It also has chapters that flash back to events that happened to each of them during this period in previous years.

It's not your average saccharine sweet holiday romance novel, there's more depth to it. It's safe to say the main characters have both had to deal with a lot when it comes to the loss of family members. I found myself with a lump in my throat a couple of times.

But a chance encounter thanks to a cute lost dog, Mr Pickles, brings them together...

I enjoyed the personal growth in the 2 main characters throughout the story arc and that they are still able to enjoy dancing in the rain (or snow ❄) despite everything they have both been through in their lives.

My favourite side characters were Angie and of course Mr Pickles.

Thank you to @bookandtonic and @jessicaredlandauthor for providing me with a copy of this book (via @netgalley) to review.

The story follows Hollie and Alex and goes back into each other's past. Both had experienced losses and were struggling to come to terms with being alone. When Alex finds an abandoned dog he takes him to Hollies cafe to see if she knew who he was.

I loved the journey they both went on to find closure to tragic events that had happened in their pasts. Flitting between the past and now worked really well. Its told from both points of view so you get to know what each one is thinking. Although its a fictitious setting, it felt very familiar and once I had read the acknowledgement I learned it was based on a place I used to visit as a child.

Hollie and Jake have broken hearts. Hollie has been through good times and bad. She hopes the café will still be the important place her mum created it to be. She and her mum are very close and I liked thst.

There are moments of tragedy in this book and there are always sweet treats and good company. I was won over by the mention of hot chocolate with marshmallows and chocolate buttons (I will have to try it like that) at the beginning of the book and felt the atmosphere of the café and surrounding area was somewhere I wanted to be.

Can Jake forget the past and move on?

Jessica Redland's books are uplifting and I'm looking forward to discovering more of them after this. I enjoyed Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow and All you Need is Love.

Her writing style is always gripping, immersive and makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I can't rate this book highly enough. It's beautiful.

Thanks to Jessica Redland, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Also thanks to Claire for the Boldwood Book Club Readalong event featuring this book from 13-17 December 2021.

5 stars

I’ve just finished this book, one of the first books I’ve managed to read since getting some bad news a few weeks ago and it really made my heart happy.

I loved Hollie and Jake, how they were both vulnerable in the same way and managed to come together and fix eachother! - obviously things weren’t quite that simple romance books never are!

Thank you Jessica Redland for providing me with a book that was so easy to get lost in

Well my goodness, Jessica Redland doesn’t shy away from giving her characters some very troubled times! You would have to be very hard-hearted not to feel for both Hollie and Jake. They both had gone through so many sad times and it was no wonder that they didn’t feel like celebrating Christmas any more. A lot of Jake’s insecurities came from his older sister who was truly horrible to him, one of the nastiest characters I’ve come across. Thank goodness he had some kind people in his life too. Hollie’s reasons for finding the period from Bonfire Night to Christmas were heart-breaking to read about but she had some wonderful friends to hold her up as well as her beloved Starfish Café.

The Starfish Café really does feel like a welcoming place, a little community in its own right. I so enjoyed meeting some of the regular customers and finding out their stories. Warmth and friendship are so central to the ethos of the cafe. These values were established by Hollie’s mum, values which she was determined to honour and carry on.

Jessica Redland has such a warm and easy to read writing style which draws you into the book from the beginning. Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café packs quite an emotional punch and is a cosy story of courage and finding love. I’m looking forward to returning to the café to read more about these characters in other books in the forthcoming series.

Hollie and Jake are both learning how to cope with grief and in this beautifully written story you find out if they are able to move on and let people into their lives.

Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café is the newest book written by Jessica Redland. I had previously read a few of her “Whitsboro Bay” series and had enjoyed them. When I saw this new book on Netgalley I couldn’t resist requesting it and diving into another seaside romance. Especially since it was set during Christmas time.

Hollie inherited The Starfish Café from her mother and it has become her primary focus and safe haven. The café had been previously run by her mother who filled it with delicious recipes and traditions until her death. A year prior to her death the family had suffered the tragic loss of Hollie’s father and brother in a seaside accident. At the same time it was discovered that her fiancé had been cheating on her. After all of these tragedies, Hollie has become very guarded and does not let alot of people in.

Similarly, Jake has been through his own period of tragedy. His mother died during childbirth and then his father died in a seaside accident when she was nine. His sister hates him and blames him for their deaths. The only good was found in his Nanna but, she passed away recently. After the death of his father, Jake has a hard time letting people in afraid that something will happen to them; especially if there was sea water involved. Everything has felt like it was falling apart and a chance meeting with a shitzu and then a beautiful woman suddenly changes everything.

When Hollie and Jake meet, there is an immediate connection but both are very cautious. They agree to split custody of the shitzu named Pickles who was dropped off when his owner went into a nursing home. As their paths continue to cross, they start revealing small bits and pieces about themselves. I really liked the slow burn of their relationship but was also weary as they were withholding important pieces of their stories that made them who they are. I just had a feeling that this could all blow up in their faces if they weren’t careful. I did however like the way that they were together- not judging each other for their respective parts and possibly looking for a future together.

The seaside views that were described throughout sounded beautiful. I kept picturing them outside the café and the lighthouse where Jake lived. I also appreciated how the sea was just as beautiful as it was dangerous. Both of these characters needed to heal from what the sea did to them and their families. It appeared that they could find strength in each other and their unexpected connection if each or them is willing to let go and move forward.

Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café is set during the holiday season but it is dimmed by the sadness of the tragedies. The seaside still sounded beautifully decorated and I enjoyed reading about it. I’m glad that Jake and Hollie found each other and made the holidays more enjoyable for each other. I just honestly am having conflicting feelings about the secrecy aspect of the relationship from the start. I understood it but it also made for an uneasiness that had me wondering if there was going to be a happily ever after to the story.

Top marks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall, this story is filled a lot of heartache, grief, a variety of emotions, and heart. There is a nice balance between the sad and happy tears as the reader makes their way through the story. It was more emotional and tragic than I initially expected, but I enjoyed that the balance was present so the story didn’t become too depressing. It still has the tragedy, but there are many light-hearted moments, too. Pickles was the cutest rescue dog and was the perfect catalyst to bring the two characters together. The relationship that develops between the two of them is very well done and extremely sweet. It is not a perfect relationship that forms and there are many obstacles that they must overcome, so it is a well-paced roller coaster. The ending works well for the story and it was a very entertaining read to get there. I continue to enjoy Jessica Redland’s novels and will definitely read more in the future!

Another beautifully written book by this author. Amazing characters and story. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

Hollie is the proud owner of The Starfish Cafe which she inherited from her Mum and into which she pours her heart and soul. Putting on her happy face for her customers, behind closed doors she struggles with her past and the grief of losing her family. One day by chance, and through the help of a little dog called Pickles, she meets Jake. They’re so at ease with each other and feel a connection, but Jake has his own past that he’s trying to hide from…..

As they build a friendship they both realise it could be more, and could be something really special….But will they be able to work through their own issues? Will they share their pasts? Can they trust each other? And will they both get the happy ending they deserve?

This is such a gorgeous, heartwarming read. I adored every minute of it and found myself picking it up whenever I had a spare minute. Being a huge fan of winter and the festive season, this was an absolute must read for me and I’m so glad I got to read this.

The characters are fantastic. Both Jake and Hollie have suffered a great deal of tragedy in the past – it’s absolutely heartbreaking, but it’s one of the things that draws them together. They have a real understanding of each other and it’s so clear that they could have something special if only they’d let themselves. The supporting characters are also wonderful – from best friends, Nanna’s, old next door neighbours and customers, each one will warm your heart in some way. And obviously, I absolutely adored Pickle who has his own sad backstory but is the most gorgeous well behaved little dog, who brings these two wonderful people together. I have to say at some points I got so frustrated with Hollie – Jake is the most wonderful guy, definitely the sort of charming man most women would dream about – and as she struggles, I wanted to give her a kick…..luckily she has a few good friends who do the job instead!

The setting is absolutely gorgeous. Set on the coast in a small cosy little village, there are. gorgeous bays, beaches and seals! The sort of place I’d love to visit, summer or winter!

And finally the storyline….which is fab. There is a lot of tragedy which will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, but there are also lots of gorgeous, heartwarming, uplifting moments that will make you smile.

I haven’t read any of Jessica’s books before but I really did adore this and will most definitely be checking out her previous books and any future one’s to come! So if you’re looking for a gorgeous, heartwarming and wonderful festive/wintery read which will take you on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, with some wonderful characters then you need to check this out. Highly recommended by me!

Hollie is mourning the loss of her mother and while she remains cheerful running the starfish cafe she is lost and alone behind closed doors. Jake is also a loner but when he finds a lost dog he stops at the cafe to see if Hollie knows who owns it and so Mr Pickles brings two people together......but can they overcome the sadness of their past lives?

Another lovely story by one of my favourite authors, as always a heartwarming emotional story that is a real page turner that I can't put down

If you need a feel good, pick-me-up, romance than Jessica Redland is one of my go to writers. And this might be my favourite book yet.

Hollie and Jake both have tragic stories to tell. They have both experienced loss and rejection and need ti find the courage to put their trust into people.amd find love again.

The non-chronological structure means that different elements of Jake and Hollie’s backstories are reveal gradually so it’s not all doom and gloom.

There are genuine moments if sadness in this book. Redland pay tribute to the heroic and often dangerous work that the lifeboat volunteers undertake to rescue people in difficulty at sea, and thisnis central to the story.

I loved the characters and was absolutely rooting for them from the moment they meet and this such a strength in Jessica Redland’s writing.

This is such a great book about following you dreams, opening your heart and allowing live unto your life, even in the face of overwhelming grief. The letters to Hollie from her mum will bring a tear to your eye.

Fantastic read!

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my gifted copy of Snowflakes Over the Starfish Cafe. Its a five star read from me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An easy read. Two young people, two broken hearts and an adorable dog. As the back stories gradually unfold the future seems impossible but will love find a way? Lovely location, great characters and that feel good factor.

Since inheriting The Starfish Cafe, Hollie has upheld all of her mums traditions and captured her welcoming spirit. But when she is as home the loneliness and grief is unbearable. When the reclusive Jake turns up at her cafe, both of their lives are going to change.

This was an emotional roller coaster that made me laugh and cry. Again, I will say I will read anything Jessica Redland writes. She is compassion with her characters and delicate with her story telling.

This is the perfect cosy romance for Christmas which deals with the harsh reality of mourning, loss and the realities that come across those going through the stages of grief- blame.
For our two protagonists they both can fully understand the definition of loss and blame, be it self-blame or the blame from others about their unfortunate circumstances that life has put them in and after a certain amount of time they find that spark in the least likely of places.
The secret which is seen so much in a romances that it is a stereotypical trope that is disrupts out character is not stereotypical and therefore makes the reader understand the space felt between our two characters, but will they pull throughout it?

There was really only one negative for me and that is only because it is my pet peeves; the author misuses the word 'bought' instead of using the word 'brought', but apart from this Redland was a cosy romance wordsmith.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A sweet read that had me crying more times than I want to admit too as it might just have been me other readers might not have that reaction.

A heartwarming, poignant and engrossing story that moved me, made me root for the characters and thoroughly enjoyed it.
There's hope, there's memory and there's a festive atmosphere.
The characters are relatable and fleshed out, the plot kept me turning pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another Jessica Redland book means another great read! Whitsborough Bay is a place I have come to know and love, and wish I could visit in real life.

This book is the perfect holiday novel. Realistic characters, a beautiful setting, and a definite addition to your TBR!