⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. A Christmas family reunion forms the backdrop to this sweet, heartwarming second chance romance.

The festive season is in full swing, and Sadie throws herself into the packed Twelve Days of Christmas programme, relishing the opportunity to make new friends and new memories. Single father Dylan Travers hasn’t been to his childhood home of Juniper Meadows for decades. Estranged from his cantankerous father Monty, he has made a happy life for himself in the States. But now with teenage children keen to know more about their roots, Dylan has brought them back to the Cotswolds to meet his family. As Sadie and Dylan both navigate a Christmas very different from the ones they had expected it’s soon clear that, geography apart, they have a great deal in common. And as Dylan confronts his past and Sadie contemplates her future, perhaps the miracle of this Christmas will be the happily-ever-after they both deserve.

MY THOUGHTS

The prologue was most definitely not something you want to skip. It started this story off with a bang, with feelings of anger, sadness, and vindication all rolled into one. And it gave us the perfect introduction to Sadie and her frame of mind.

Sadie and Dylan were both such beautiful people who wholeheartedly deserved a second chance at love and happy-ever-after. Dylan’s reunion with his family was poignant and filled the pages with so much hope. In fact, this entire series can be summed up with that word – hope. Their romance was soft and gradual, and I loved every moment of them together, even with Sadie’s reservations.

This book has been an absolute pleasure to read. If you are looking for a closed-door romance that also centers around family, then this is the book for you. The books in this series each stand well on their own, but it’s worth starting at the beginning to get properly familiar with all the interesting characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: September 13, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Juniper Meadows
Other books in the series: Where We Belong, In From the Cold, Come Rain or Shine