It’s been a long time since a romance book has drawn me in like this one has! The beginning is a mixture of happiness laced with sadness which can make for a bit of a sad read and may be a little triggering for someone who has experience cancer or the affects of, bullying and abuse.

The dialogue and inner dialogue could come across a little stiff at times but that’s my only gripe. It’s a heartwarming, feel good read and a bit of a journey for both characters to get there. I enjoy the dynamic that builds between them throughout the book. I kinda want my own starfish cafe and my own Jake now

Jessica Redland is back with an absolute stunner of a book! That is guaranteed to reduce you to tears and fill your heart with love.

Jake has had a pretty tough life between the loss of his parents, and his crazy sister, the one person that has always loved him was his nan, but now he was all alone, well he was until he found this fluffy little dog...

Hollie had an amazing family and future, but then a series of unfortunate events left her alone, with only the Starfish Café and her memories, but when a stranger came is asking if she knew if someone had lost a dog, it became a chance encounter that changes everything, but can they both let go of the past to have a second chance at happiness?

WOW! What an absolute stunner of a story, it truly reduced me to tears several times, and unfortunately made me realize that we all have that one person in our lives who is truly terrible. But by the end of the story, I knew this was going to be one that I absolutely loved because let's be real, not everyone has the perfect background, or has had the most idyllic childhood, and it's nice to see that an author is writing stories for those of us with those backgrounds finding love.

So I've seen so many good things about Jessica's writing and books that when I saw this one pop-up I just had to read it.

It did not disappoint at all all! I love how you were just like thrown straight into it. There was a lot of characters I felt which is quite hard to keep up with sometimes but it all added to the story so that's ok.

I love how we were getting along with a story like we didn't know the full story. I love how entwined it was and I couldn't have a guessed the whole thing!

It wasn't my usual rom-com style book but I really enjoyed it. I like that there was more substance to story and really good, can't wait to read more of Jessica's writing!

Hollie and Jake are both recovering from numerous family tragedies and broken hearts when a gorgeous dog called Mr Pickles brings them together. This was a beautiful and yet at time devastatingly sad story about two souls who need to overcome a lot of barriers if they ever hope to find love. I really loved this release and am going to ensure I add other books by Jessica to my TBR pile.

Book Review “Snowflakes over The Starfish Café” by Jessica Redland.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 ~ NIKIPRESTON ~
STAR RATING 5Stars



REVIEW BY NIKI PRESTON

FIVE STARS

This book is one of those that will stay with me for a very long time. Moments that make you smile, moments that make you sigh and moments that actually made my heart hurt.

To me this book is much more that a romance, it is more a life lesson on how to cope with life and all that is throws at you.

The two main characters, Hollie and Jack have both been through huge tragedies that have shaped them and how they are spurred on in their lives to honour the memories of their loved ones, but at what cost to them? They clearly should be and need to be together. They are immensely good for each other but do they ever actually get to that point of trust that means they can fully give each other the chance of a life filled with love? No spoilers from me on this one.

As I just said, I don’t want to give away any spoilers but their is one section of the book that includes a “Rubik’s cube” that moved me to tears. It is simply the best analogy for rebuilding a life that I have ever read.

My advice is, grab yourself a copy, a cuppa, a comfy chair and immerse yourself in this wonderfully written book. It is full of characters that will remind us someone we know, Mrs Sultana is just wonderful, even though she is a background character she and other seemingly background characters have stories that only lend themselves to making this book one of the best I have read. A five star book all the way.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/34I47Zk

Author Bio –


Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Social Media Links –

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor

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Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland

Sweet book. I just loved the characters. And it made me wish it was Christmas time.
3. 5 stars for this one.

This book overwhelmed me such a joy to read. Brilliant writing style and characters were amazing. Full of humour and the story is about the cafe and beach. I loved the setting of the story. I’m still thinking of the story plenty of surprises and drama. I love these two characters Jake and Hollie they had great chemistry. Can’t wait to read more from this author in the future x💜

Another superb book by Jessica Redland. You are guaranteed a lovely warm read when you pick up her latest book.
Hollie and Jake are both nursing troubled lives and Pickles the dog brings them together and focusing on making him happy.
Hollie is running the cafe and misses having a dog around. Jake has rescued Pickles but needs some help fitting in looking after him.

Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café by Jessica Redland
What happens?
Café owner Hollie and Jake collide over lost dog Mr Pickles. Will their tragic pasts get in the way of romance?

My thoughts
What a sweet story, rather like having a lovely cream and jam scone. Once it’s gone you could have it again, or in this case read the book again. I thought it was very heartfelt and really showed the vulnerabilities and background of each main character in great detail. I could tell that the author had obviously spent a great deal of time thinking about how Jake and Hollie would be a great match for each other. What an ideal boyfriend Jake proved to be, sensitive and caring. I liked the old-style romance that developed between Jake and Hollie and the cosiness of the café. It was refreshing. I could have spent more time in the café, chatting to one of the regulars that the author brought to life so vividly.
Of course, Mr Pickles can’t fail to get a mention. What an adorable dog and such a character- talk about stealing the show! The themes of grief and healing were realistically and sensitively handled. I also enjoyed the background of this town at Christmas, which I could clearly picture in my mind. Overall, it’s one to curl up with a hot chocolate on a cold winter’s eve. With thanks to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and Netgalley for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite book by the author. I would give it 3.5 stars. I saw the cover of the book and knew I had to read it. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many disturbing characters. What was with the siblings in the this book? Katie's sister was evil and Jake's sister was beyond evil. There was something extremely wrong with her and she ruined the book for me. She was the wrong type of person for this book , maybe if she was toned down a bit. She was SCARY!!

I'm not sure how Jake and Hollie never crossed paths before. Mr. Pickles had the best name in the book. Although, I'm partial to it since our dog's name is Finley Pickles. If it wasn't for Mr.Pickles, Hollie and Jake would have never met. Hollie and Jake were made for each other. How could they not be with all the sadness that surrounded the both of them. They were exactly what each other needed. I'm surprised Jake turned out so well with everything that happened to him. He was lucky to have his Nanna. She loved him and tried to protect him from his psychopath sister.

Definitely recommend the book. I enjoyed the story, writing style and characters (mostly). The book was full of love, friendship, forgiveness, sadness and so much more. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book and it is definitely one of my favorite books this year and one of Jessica’s best books. I was so touched and into the story that I smiled and had tears in my eyes several times. It takes brilliant writing skills to have the reader so engaged in the story and the characters and so quickly.

What to expect in this book:
✅ two very lovable main characters, Jake and Hollie
✅ a touching story told by both main characters
✅ a lot of loss and grief and challenges to not let the past determine your future
✅ a super cute Shih Tzu dog with the face of a bear
✅ the wonderful setting of Whitsborough Bay. It sounds some picturesque I would absolutely love to live there!
✅ a love for baking and crafts
✅ surrogate family stepping up in times of need
✅ brilliant characters, many of which I am keen to hear more about hopefully in sequels.

The list is endless. I could go on and on with what to expect and what makes this story so wonderful and touching, but instead of doing that I encourage you to read it so you can see for yourself. You will not regret it!

5☆ An Uplifting and Emotional Read.

Wow what a read! Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café is such a beautiful story, it's one of those books that plays with every emotion. By the end of the book you feel like you know the characters and for me that's always a winner.

At first it took me a few chapters to work out who was who as there is a fair few amazing characters and each have a part in the story. Which you will discover for yourself.

But the main character is Hollie and her life after tragedy, heartache, joy, second chances, traditions, potential romances, Friendships and the most delightful Starfish Café and all it's eclectic customers.
I loved every minute of getting to know Hollie and the other characters.

I'm a Big fan of Jessica Redland's books, and as always, she had written an absolute gem of a story.
Snowflakes Over the Starfish Café is a Heart Warming, Uplifting, rollercoaster of a read, that will touch your heart.
So grab a blanket, a hot cuppa and maybe a tissue or two and prepare to be swept away.

What can I say other than this is the best Jessica Redland book to date. The characters draw you in and you feel their joy and pain. I cannot wait to read the follow up book .Already pre ordered!

Favorite Quotes:

‘Mr Pickles? Is that really his name?’ Jake grimaced. ‘You think Mr Pickles is bad? His full name is Mr Piccalilli Marmaduke Fluffington the Third.’ I had no idea how to respond to that. That was surely bordering on animal cruelty.

People can still be in love but not like each other very much and sometimes they can like each other but not be in love.

My Review:

I adore Jessica Redland’s books. She is a master storyteller and has a knack for thoroughly enmeshing me into her poignant tales during perusal. At one point, I looked up and felt a bit muddled as I was expecting to see the snow the characters were experiencing, rather than the tropical plants in my yard. So imagine my delight in beginning a new series laced together with endearing and admirable characters who find each other to be exactly what they needed, yet the timing was a bit off with a few complications tossed in to be considered and worked through. The writing was thoughtful, observant, and perceptively insightful with a comfortable balance in emotional tone, and of course, my highly prized and required HEA. I am looking forward to my next visit with my new friends in the quaint British resort village by the sea of Whitsborough Bay.

And score, I found an addition to my Brit Words and Phrases List with “bricking it” which is an informal and nice way of saying they were so anxious or panicky they were shitting bricks. I’ve certainly been there and find this phrase highly useful!

I have previously read some of Jessica Redland's books and I have enjoyed them, so I jumped to the opportunity of reading this one.

First of all, The Starfish Café is the most amazing name ever. It immediately gave me some vibes of the location and learning about it and all the people regularly visiting it, felt like it was part of my small hometown. That's the feeling I had while reading the book. It had a familiar feel to it.

Hollie and Jake... two characters I absolutely love. The way their relationship started and developed, the uncovering of their pasts and how it made them who they are... I could understand it and I couldn't stop reading because I needed more.

Grief, drama, resilience, family, friendship, love,... and Christmas. All things I like in a book. Specially the plus: the cute dog. This book had many messages in it. It was emotional and it was a rollercoaster. Thankfully I didn't read it at the beach, where everyone could see my tears falling down my cheeks. But it didn't just made me cry, it also made me smile. Not that crying was bad, it was a good thing. I didn't even realized I was crying, which means I really was into the story and connecting with the characters.

Overall, it was emotional. It was happy and powerful. It was lovely and it was comforting. And I enjoyed every second of it.

[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Jessica Redland and Boldwood Books for the eCopy of this book, via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

This is a lovely book that is set over the period from Bonfire night to Christmas. We follow Hollie and Jake as they deal with difficult periods in their lives. In dealing with this they are helped brilliantly by a wonderful, if oddly named, dog. Both of them are trying to live their lives as best they can while almost being on autopilot and the reasons for that are shown throughout the course of the book as we get an insight into relevant parts of both their lives. While they are going into this difficult period, along comes the dog which does what all animals do and turns everything on its head.

This is one of those books that I got absorbed in quite quickly. Jake and Hollie were lovely characters and I warmed to them both straight away. They’ve been through a lot so their feelings and reactions are understandable and realistic. There were a few other main characters that added to the story but it was mostly about Hollie and Jake, and the dog when it also made an appearance. The location was lovely, the beaches and the lighthouse brilliantly described, so much so that I felt I could see them myself. There were other well described locations but the best of all was the cafe. It came across as warm and cosy, one of those places where you walk in and feel instantly comfortable, that does lovely drinks and cakes and where you could socialise if you wanted, or be left to enjoy your own company. I really wanted the cafe to be real so I could go there, type blog posts and just enjoy the atmosphere.

There is a lot of sadness in this book, I’m not going to pretend there isn’t, but there’s also a lot of joy in it as well. It’s one of those books that shows that sometimes it’s the little things are really important. It’s definitely a warm and cosy book and one that explores tricky subjects while keeping you safe, like being wrapped in a big comforting blanket. All you need to accompany your reading is a hot mug of something and some cake but don’t forget a box of tissues (because I needed them a few times when I read this book).

Love, Love, Love!! This is a book that has all the feels and had me totally smitten with the characters and setting from first page to last!

Hollie and Jake can't fail to capture your hearts as they tell their stories - and the wonderful Mr Pickles plays a big part too!! These are two characters that have faced real hard times in the past and are still dealing with grief, and the story cleverly goes backwards and forwards in their timelines to give you a fuller picture of the sad times that both have faced and how that impacted on the people that they had become.

Watching their relationship develop from friendship was just so wonderful! They were so easy in the company of one another, but always wary and guarded over just how much of their past to share with one another - probably in fear of opening up too much with the possibility of having their heart broken once more.

Looking back over what happened to their lives and family was often so heartbreaking and shocking and really showed the pain and trauma that life can often throw your way, and throw you off course. You just wanted to jump into the book and give them both a big hug!!

They had wonderful people around them and I just didn't want their story to end! They both knew that they needed to move on with their lives, but that meant confronting the past and that is never an easy process and you just wanted so bad for them to be happy as they were such good people.

It made me laugh, it made me cry and I adored every minute of it!

This was a very cute, Christmassy read.

It has everything you want from a Christmas book - friendships, family, romance, a cute and cosy cafe, a lovely community, a nosy neighbour and meddling nannas here and there... But there's also, as always, a bad guy here and there.

I thought this was so easy to get through, you could read it in one sitting. And I think this book is perfect just for that. When you want a book where the writing won't overwhelm you, when you need something simple, but that will still make you feel good after you've read it.

The setting is beautiful, there's no denying it. There are so many beautiful characters here as well. I love that feeling of a cosy, supportive community.

As far as our main characters are concerned, they both have their issues and quite frankly I was really disturbed by his sister, right from the very beginning. Overall, I feel like the two of them, and everyone else in this book has the meanest case of ''comparing their entire lives with someone else's''. Whether it's a relationship, a career, success, anything...everyone suffered from it. And if you want to see people overcome this and find true happiness, and find themselves, you'll enjoy it.

Overall, I liked it, though it's not necessarily something I would recommend to my friends or family as a MUST Christmas read. It's lovely, it's just not something I would reread.

We’re back on the gorgeous Yorkshire coast and we have an opportunity to explore another part of Whitsborough Bay.

One of the beautiful things about Jessica’s work is how she creates characters and scenarios that really stay with the reader. Almost two weeks after I’d finished the story, one Sunday I found myself thinking about this book again and wondering about real life people who find themselves in somewhat similar situations. I must say, that totally cast a damper over my Sunday mood! Lol.

But in all fairness, the sweetness of the story and the richness of each character’s journey more than make up for the emotional rawness.

The story starts out with some time jumps. We see alternating chapters from both Hollie and Jake’s perspectives. We also have chapters that alternate from seven years before to present to back a couple more years back to present. Admittedly, it was a bit disorienting for me at first. However, the backstories that are built up in this manner are simply amazing.

Jake and Hollie both have lost so much in their short lives, it’s incredible how they both manage to remain earnest, giving souls through it all. Jessica takes readers down their difficult paths through flashbacks and present day explanations. Readers are also sometimes treated to third party perspectives through chats with family friends. All the pieces add up to very moving story.

If you’re putting together your Christmas reading list, I’d strongly recommend you pop this one on there. The Christmas element doesn’t sparkle brightly throughout the entire story, but the main plot points do centre around the festive season and how both characters deal with it, especially when their past experiences aren’t the best. The central themes of hope and love remain true to the season.

For the animal lovers, I dare you not to fall in love with Pickle (and his official name)! This spunky ball of energy brings our protagonists together in a way they wouldn’t have done on their own. I absolutely love how this doggie is woven into the narrative!

This is a tale of how tragedy, grief and conflict can be overcome through persistence, love and support. It’s a charming anecdote to remind readers of how short life can be and why we should live the best life we can, while we can.

In short, another wonderful emotional roller coaster of a read from Jessica Redland, one of my absolute favourite authors!

A huge thank you to Boldwood Books, netgalley and the author for giving me this opportunity to read this book. The review is my own honest opinion.


Snowflakes Over The Starfish Café is a delightful read full of heartbreak, family, friendship and the promise of love.

The story follows Hollie as she deals with running the Café that her mother owned and the loss of her parents and brother. Christmas is always the worst time of year for her and the story follows her journey as she navigates it this particular year! We also meet Jake, a lovely person who has seen tragedy and faced a lot of bullying in his childhood. It's thanks to the love and understanding shown by his grandmother that he grows into the wonderful human being that he is. I instantly fell in love with Hollie and Jake individually the moment I met them in the book.

The story follows these two people are they find each other by chance thanks to a small fluffy dog who brings about tremendous changes in their lives. He not only forges a bond between them, he helps bridge the gap and acts as a catalyst to the breaking down of multiple walls. I truly think that the dog is the true hero of this story!

The author has done a wonderful job with the setting and the characters. The place is described really well and to me it felt magical. There is something welcoming about a café by the sea and the warmth of family and familiarity. As for the others, I loved Angie and her daughter Katie. They brought light to the book and stability to Hollie as an extended and accepted family. 

Be prepared to deal with a rollercoaster of emotions as the characters' pasts are revealed and as they start to deal with loss and move towards acceptance. Overall this is a lovely book about two people who find their way back to being themselves and in the process find a love that stays.