Snowflakes on Silver Cove was the second visit I’ve made to the idyllic town of White Cliff Bay recently. Holly Martin’s Christmas at Lilac Cottage was also set in White Cliff Bay and was published just a few weeks ago. I’d really enjoyed the community and characters Holly Martin created so was keen to make this return visit. You can read my review of Christmas at Lilac Cottage by clicking here: review. Some of the same characters are in both books, as well as some of the events, but please don’t be put off if you haven’t read Christmas at Lilac Cottage. Snowflakes on Silver Cove is very much a standalone book. If you have read the other book though, you will smile as you recognise the situations and read them from another character’s point of view.
Libby is a romantic novelist, famed for her Christmas offerings. She travels the world researching her books, never settling long in any one place and never really making any lasting friendships. She is currently in White Cliff Bay working on her latest novel but is suffering a bit from writer’s block. She has made great friends with her next door neighbour George. They are so comfortable in each other’s company, having a laugh, cooking for each other, watching tv together, going to the pub together. In fact, you’d think they were perfect for each other. And of course, they are – though they both think there is no possibility of a relationship since Libby is due to move on to New York at the end of the year. Libby suggests to George that they go on a series of ‘dates’ so he can practise to ask out another neighbour Giselle – and hopes she will find a bit inspiration for her book. As they go on these dates, their feelings grow stronger though neither will admit it to the other. Libby and George are the main characters but there is also another lovely storyline featuring Libby’s friend Amy and Seb, Amy’s boss. Seb was widowed five years previously and there is a huge mutual attraction between them – this time one which isn’t denied. The big fly in the ointment is Seb’s snooty mother-in-law Judith who might just be ready to accept it’s time for him to move on, but definitely not with Amy!
Libby knows just what women want in real life – “Woman love to read about the big, strong alpha males who are mean and broody but in reality they want someone who will take care of them, who is sweet and kind, someone who would make them smile every single day”. Isn’t that just a perfect description of the perfect man? As well, as being a very romantic read I must say just how funny this book is! George’s twelve gifts of Christmas for Libby are for the most part, very romantic and sweet, if a bit silly. His poetry to go with each gift is very dodgy – “Nine days before Christmas, my true love gave to me, an ice rose that was all slippery!”. They play a few practical jokes on each other that are bound to make you smile and I laughed out loud at the episode with Libby’s friend Amy, the cat and the purple hair dye!
Holly Martin has written another lovely book that will have you laughing and smiling and really rooting for her characters. It’s a fabulously Christmassy book which will make you believe in the magic of the season and get you right into the festive mood – a real feel-good read. White Cliff Bay is such a great setting and its inhabitants are so engaging. I really hope we will meet some of them again as I’d love to find out what happens next for George, Libby, Amy and Seb (and Penny and Henry at Lilac Cottage!).
My thanks to publishers Bookouture for providing a review copy via Netgalley. Snowflakes on Silver Cove was published on 30 October 2015 and you can buy a copy here: Snowflakes on Silver Cove
Snowflakes on Silver Cove
Libby Joseph is famous for her romantic Christmas stories. Every December, readers devour her books of falling in love against the magical backdrop of the Christmas season. If only Libby believed in the magic herself. Struggling to finish her current novel, Libby turns to her best friend and neighbour George Donaldson to cheer her up. But George also needs a bit of support himself. Nervous about getting back into the dating saddle after splitting from his wife, he and Libby strike a deal. She will teach George how to win over the ladies, and Libby will in turn be inspired to inject her novel with a good dose of romance. As Libby and George explore the beautiful White Cliff Bay on a series of romantic Christmas-themed dates, Libby finds herself having more fun than she’s had in ages and…discovers feelings that she never knew she had for George. But is it too late? Will George win someone else’s heart or can Libby act like the heroine in one of her stories and reach for her own love under the mistletoe this Christmas?
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