There is so much more to this book than the seasonal aspects. Although it captures the festive atmosphere beautifully, it focuses on a group of seniors who are being made to move from their residential home. Jess, Oliver and Nik work hard to make their last few weeks together memorable and the links between the generations are clear to see. There are some real characters in the group and I liked the way they were shown to have had valuable and demanding lives when they were younger. Family and friendships are centre stage.
Jess's work at the toy shops adds a seasonal touch and somehow adds to the warm feelings. I also enjoyed the story which develops around Nik and everyone's reactions to him. This is a lovely book to read near Christmas and certainly has a heart-warming, feelgood tone. I also have to mention Buddy, Jess's dog who features and adds to the warmth.
In short: Will the Christmas Party go ahead?
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

A fun, light hearted seasonal read, sometimes felt a bit too sweet and unbelievable, but it’s a nice read and pleasant enough to spend an hour or two escaping reality

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

An enjoyable Christmas read from Samantha Tonge.

I was quickly sucked in to the story as Jess sat down on the plane next to Nik on the way home. Nik quickly becomes part of Jess's live and I was trying from the start to try and figure him and some of the characters in the book have theories about Nik which I definitely agreed with. In the book we also met the residents of Willow Court including Jess's Grandmother. This was a good refreshing plot within the story that kept me reading and it gave me a twists which I suspected and hoped for as I was reading.

It's a great lighthearted, fun festive read that will most definitely leave you with a smile on your face at the end.

Jess and Nik meet on a flight from Nuremberg to London after a toy trade fair. He is an Australian toy manufacturer who is visiting London to get some ideas from other locations and Jess is the manager of a toy shop.

I went into this book blind and assumed it would be a typical festive themed romance but it is so much more than that.

Jess's grandmother is in a residential care home called Willow Court and they get the sad news that it is closing down. They won't get to have their annual Christmas party and understandably, the residents are devastated at the prospect of moving out and being split up.

Nik accompanies Jess to the care home and charms everyone there. It was lovely to see the dynamics between the residents and learn more about each person's backstory. Alf is definitely my favourite as he loves a good conspiracy theory - even coming up with one about Nik!

Jess's best friend and roommate Oliver is suspicious of Nik, stating that no one is that nice and willingly visits the care home of a relative of a girl he only just met. I instantly thought the same upon reading and assumed it was too much of a fluffy, easy, romance but I couldn't be more wrong.

There is a really deep backstory for Jess regarding her family life and relationship with her mother and Nik shares a lot about his life too. It's written so well and I just loved every bit of it!

It is a beautiful, heart-warming, Christmassy book that is full of not only romantic love, but the unconditional love between friends too.

This was a wonderful story of friendship. Seeing different generational friendships was beautiful, seeing Oliver and Jess interacting with their friends in the care home, taking the time to see all their needs are met during the stressful time of the home closing, it really showed how something so small can mean so much to someone. Seeing Nik be brought into that friendship circle was lovely, not just for his benefit as the new guy in the block, but also for all the extra happiness he managed to bring to the residents. Even the friendship between Jess and Seb was lovely, he made sure she was ok, he cooked for her and even rushed over to see her as soon as he had fresh info to give her.
All the carehome residents were lovely and I enjoyed learning about their younger lives and seeing how age doesn’t stop you from making strong solid friendships.

It was a wonderful feel good read from start to finish.

A great festive read. Plenty of twists and turns but the main theme could happen near you and it has happened up and down the country. This has been very well executed and has been a real pleasure to read. Samantha has written this very well and has done her research brilliantly. 5 stars given and I am sure tears will be in your eyes as well as happy smiles. A lovely book to curl up with.

Jess. is a toyshop owner and meets Nik on the plane on the way back from a trade fair in Germany. I thought the trade fair was an original event and a toy store owner is always a welcome job to have, especially in the months running up to Christmas.

People meeting each other on planes seems to be a bit of a thing in books I have reviewed over the past few years and can get a bit tired. But that's the only bad thing I have to say about this book.

From the start, Nik seems interesting and Jess is drawn to his sexy Aussie looks and accent. They part ways too soon but she thinks of a quick way to keep him at the airport longer. They always say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach :)

They get chatting more and I found myself feeling sad as they left the airport, but happy at the promise of her seeing him again.

Their love of food and toys shines through. Jesss's toyshop is beautifully decorated and very cosy.

Jess lives in an apartment with her friend and flatmate Oliver and there's tension when he first hears about him. He just wants Jess to be OK.

Alice is Jess's grandmother and is a lovely person who Jess adores. Alice's wellbeing is in danger as the assisted living facility she lives in is up for sale.

Can Jess and Nik save Willow Court and its residents from ruin and celebrate the annual Cheistmas party the residents deserve?

Their efforts are interesting to witness and the residents are lovely. I enjoyed meeting them through Jess and Nik's visits there.

The Winter We Met is heartbreaking, warming inspiring and like a warming cup of hot chocolate and a hug rolled into one.

The fight for Willow Court and Jess's worry about her grandmother was incredibly realistic and I could relate to the struggle to get needs met and the frustration that casuses when it does not go to plan since both myself and those close to me have had to fight for our health and wellbeing needs. I am an advocate for people never stopping fighting for what they are entitled to.

This is especially important for elderly people or those of us with disabilities and I congratulate Samantha Tonge for painting a realistic but sensitive picture of the reality of the fight for those of us who are more vulnerable for one reason or another and the fact we need to be seen as people.

I was so happy that Alice had a good support network as that can be hard to come by.

Of Samantha Tonge's books, I liked that this was another Christmas-themed one. After reviewing The Christmas Calendar Girls and then The Summer Island Swap on their corresponding blog tours, I was really happy to review The Winter We Met because Samantha Tonge has a real gift for representing friendships, enticing settings and creating chatacters you want to know about.

Every character is well fleshed out and the residents of Willow Court have so many interesting tales to tell but also complement each other brilliantly.

Another wonderful novel by Samantha Tonge. I have now reviewed all her books and loved them all.

Thanks to Samantha Tonge and Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

Happy Publication Day. I loved this. From the start I was just intrigued about this Nik guy, how they met and just what would happen in general. However, I did have a few doubts about him myself kind of a too good to be true thing. Part chick-lit, romance and Christmas makes a perfect cosy read in these current dark nights!

And THERE’S A DOG! We all love dogs right? I loved everything about this story. The OAPS, the OAP home, the characters and the setting. The big finale/party is what it all comes to in the end. A book full of love, hope, friendship and new beginnings. Was all just perfect to me. Brilliantly written and a easy, light read for me. I love the cover too! A well deserved four stars. Highly recommend.

This book will leave you feeling completely Christmassy! I found myself googling recipes for Eggnog Pie (it really is a thing!) and Christmassy cocktails by the end of it! The storyline does contain romance, but I would say that the primary focus of it was community and family, because the storyline centres around the care home that Jess’s Gran lives at, which is going to be closing before Christmas, but also on the meaning of family, and how families are not always a conventional creation.

The sense of community is strong, which was no surprise, because Samantha Tonge writes books that have a strong thread of community in them, which contributes towards making her fictional world both warm and idyllic.

I adored Jess, and her friends, the mysterious Nik, her best friend Oliver, and her co-worker Seb. My lips are firmly sealed on the romance within this story, there will be no spoilers from me, but it was exactly how I wanted it to be, and I can’t ask for any more than that in a romantic storyline!

The pensioners living in the care home were all lovely, and I particularly enjoyed Alf and his theories! I felt for them all, not only because they were having to find new places to live just before Christmas, but because the insensitive owners seemed intent on removing the things that made the home feel like home, before the residents had found new homes. A mention must be made about Buddy, the dog that Jess owns, who is as much a part of the community as the people.

The painted pebbles, to be placed on the top of the hill together was a lovely and poignant memorial of the friendships and love that had filled the care home, and add to that the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ themed Christmas Party, it provided the perfect resolution to the story of the care home, and gave the residents a special moment before their new beginnings.

In festive terms, if you don’t feel filled with the spirit of Christmas by the end of this book, I’d be extremely surprised. I’m ready to start decorating, and baking now, as this wonderfully festive novel has got me in the mood for festive tunes, festive food and lots of snow.

This was such a sweet and original story, full of the traditional elements we associate with Christmas, but with an unusual, equally important focus.
I absolutely adored the way the book focused on the elderly and their importance in our lives. The residents of Willow Court are all unique and drawn with so much love and care. I really appreciated their concerns about having to face such a big change and how the staff did everything they could to ensure their next home would be a good place. The toy shop with its unique atmosphere was such a great setting and I really enjoyed reading about new upcoming trends are chosen.
A heart-warming and sincere story, easy to read and full of sweet, memorable characters, the Winter We Met is much more than just a regular Christmas romance. Definitely recommended.

The Blurb:
When charming, mysterious Nik sits next to Jess on a plane home from a Christmas toy trade fair, she never could have imagined the impact he'd have on her life. As they touch down in London, Jess is hesitant to let Nik walk away, and before she knows it, she's invited him to visit.
As the two take in the delights of the toy store where she works, Jess gets an upsetting phone call. Willow Court, her Grandmother's care home, is to close before Christmas. Jess is determined to find the perfect new home for her Gran – and throw the best Christmas party Willow Court has ever seen!
But time is running out with the closure looming and Jess becomes increasingly drawn to enigmatic Nik who joins forces with her and best friend Oliver to realise those plans.
Will a chance encounter on an aeroplane bring love to Jess's life or is this Christmas miracle too good to be true?

My Thoughts :
Always a fan of Samantha Tonge, I was so pleased to read her newest release and what better than a festive story.
We meet Jess Jagger and Nik Talvi. The couple meet while seated on a flight from Germany after attending a Traders Toy Fair. They have an instant connection and not just career related.
Jess works at the toyshop and Nik’s family run a manufacturing company for Toys.
When they land Jess doesnt want to part and invites Nik back to hers and to see where she works.
Also added to the mix is Jess’s Grandma Alice. When she tells Jess that they can no longer have their Chrsitmas party in the care home and she needs to find somewhere else to live, Jess and Nik set about making it happen and help to throw Willow Court Care Home one hell of a shin dig before its closure.
All the charactors were easy to fall in love with and I was routing for Jess and Nik throughout.
This story captures Love, Family and friendship. A delightful read once again by Samantha Tonge, and one that will stay with you over and beyond the festive period.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for inviting me on this blog tour.
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If this doesn’t get you into the Christmas spirit I don’t know what will!
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This was such a wonderful, feel good book full of warm community cheer and even some #pensionerinthepages
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I absolutely loved the main characters and by the end of the book felt like I was right there with them! #christmas #party #blogtour

This adorable little winter read tells the story of Jess, her faithful friend Oliver, her fun and fiesty Gran and a mystery man she meets, on a flight home from Australia…

Jess loves her job and although her family structure is a little broken, she feels at home with, and connected to her Gran’s friends and neighbours at Willow Court.

After she meets mystery man Nik, things in Jess’ life seem to go a little bit out of control. Ever perfect, ever present Nik, is there helping as much as he can, but will there be more to their relationship than a damsel in distress and a Knight in shining armour? Is Nik too good to be true? And how will Jess’ housemate Oliver react to this new addition to her life?

There were many enjoyable aspects to the book. The characters are vibrant, likeable and relatable. Nik is mysterious and foreign, which adds an extra layer to the story.

It is essentially a story of friendship and romance, but there is so much more to this story. It is about home, Christmas, family and having the strength to re-evaluate, make changes and brave choices.

There were some original twists in the story which although a little far fetched, kept me interested and added some drama and at times, a certain lightness to the story.

I was really chuffed with the ending and felt it was completely appropriate to the story.

I really hope you will read and enjoy this cosy Christmas romance from Samantha Tonge!

This was a really wholesome book. It was a little 'cuter' than I usually go for, but it was well-written, and I appreciated that. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for the literary-equivalent to a Hallmark Christmas movie.

The Winter We Met is wonderfully warm-spirited and beautifully romantic. There is a hint of something magical and enchanting about the storyline that transfixed me throughout and I could have carried on reading about the characters as I felt like I didn’t want this particular reading experience to end.

Jess works in a toyshop in a lovely leafy suburb of London, she’s on her way back from a Toy Trade Fair and gets chatting to a very charming young man on the plane. A young man that happens to be in the same industry as herself working for the family toy manufacturers in Australia. A young man that knows just how to make Jess feel at ease when he could sense her panicking and becoming anxious on the plane. This young man is called Nik and he’s on his way to London to investigate the toy shops and what appears to be big sellers in Europe. A friendship soon develops and Jess opens up this friendship more by inviting Nik to visit her shop.

Nik soon becomes enchanted by the small toy shop and of the quaint English town and the foodie traditions he’s missed out on. Jess decides to introduce him to a few of her favourite English meals and invites him to spend time with her Grandma and friends.

Jess’ Grandma lives in a care home and has a wonderful network of friends in the home. However, there’s bad news ahead and the home is due to close by Christmas. As you can imagine staff and residents are deeply upset and worried to be losing their home and being close to the group of friends they have made. Jess with the help of her old and now new friends plan to make a Christmas party to remember.

There’s a wonderful community spirit within the storyline of friendship, family but not a family in the traditional way, a family that you have built up around you. I really enjoyed learning about the elderly residents of the care home, I loved their history and their personality traits. Hearing about the day to day life in a care home like Willow Court sounded wonderful, the staff were very thoughtful and caring and generous of their time. You could sense that this job was more than a vocation to the staff.

I fell in love with the toy shop that Jess worked in, it reminded me of a toy shop I visited with my children when they were little. It’s a toy shop with traditional values that welcomes you in and makes you feel at home. I was feeling very nostalgic with this glorious toy shop.

This is a story of chance encounters but is it fate?! A story of old and young mixing together in harmony blending wisdom, experience, youth and energy developing into a perfect cocktail of friendship. A story of experiencing the highs and lows of life but enjoying each step along the way. Most of all it’s a festive treat of a read with a beautiful romance to welcome the festivities in.

The Winter We Met by Samantha Tonge
Publisher: Head of Zeus, Aria
Genre: Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: October 8, 2020
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The Winter We Met by Samantha Tonge is a sweet, holiday romance.

I really enjoyed this story that captured the true spirit of Christmas. This was a wonderful story with beautifully developed characters.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for an uplifting tale that will make you a little teary-eyed.

I'm so grateful to Samantha Tonge, Head of Zeus , and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A candy came sweet festive read. I did find that Nik was perhaps a little too good to be true but he would be a perfect character in a Christmas movie. Loved the characters in the old folks' home and some of the real life history that came out from conversing with the residents.

This is my second novel by Samantha Tonge and I’m really just wondering why I haven’t read more, more, more?!

I enjoyed One Summer in Rome a coupe years ago and reading The Winter We Met reminded me just how well this author captures emotions and makes the reader feel them too.

Let’s start with the beautiful setting. I love an author who can create a delightful sense of space without having to waffle on for pages about paint colour and furniture textures. Samantha’s descriptions merge with the plot creating just the right ambiance to have you energised while overlooking a small town at sunset or feeling cozy in a cute pub.

There’s also mystery. Just what is the story with Nik? There are cues, clues and misdirections. I thought I had him sussed out by about a third of the way in, then I began to doubt myself and then… well, let’s just say you have to read the book to find out and enjoy even more.

Jess is such a sweet central character. She’s not had the easiest life but she’s resilient and determined to be happy while making her own way in this world. That determination may sometimes cloud her judgment and blind her to something beautiful right there in front of her. However, how her eyes are opened and how she discovers the magic of romance is delightful.

Then there are the charming cast at Willow Court, her grandmother’s care home. I loved how the author provides very convincing characters here. The realities of elderly persons living with dementia, heart illnesses, loneliness etc is touched on. I really enjoyed the ‘care facts’ and tools that are covered. I especially enjoyed how those details work with the story and never interrupt flow or setting.

And Christmas: It’s a Christmas story with a protagonist who works in a toy store while helping the residents of a care home plan their Christmas bash. The Christmas details are certainly jolly from the food to traditions to the gorgeous window displays… absolutely delightful.

I adored this story. The setting is perfect, the characters perfectly flawed and the feelings wonderfully real!

I adore this author's book and this was a fabulous read!

The story is very well developed, the writing style is perfect and she has got such a lovely natural flow to the book it was a delight to read.

I love the setting for the book and the characters were lovely, I warmed to them from the outset and I have already told my mum that she needs to get her hands on a copy of this one and read it ASAP!

It is another 5 star read for me from this author - I thought that the story was fantastic, well developed with some fantastic characters - I loved it right from the start when I saw the stunning cover - very highly recommended!!

The Winter We Met by Samantha Tonge
Publication Date: October 8, 2020
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“When charming, mysterious Nik sits next to Jess on a plane home from a Christmas toy trade fair, she never could have imagined the impact he'd have on her life. As they touch down in London, Jess is hesitant to let Nik walk away, and before she knows it, she's invited him to visit.

As the two take in the delights of the toy store where she works, Jess gets an upsetting phone call. Willow Court, her grandmother's care home, is to close before Christmas. Jess is determined to find the perfect new home for her Gran – and throw the best Christmas party Willow Court has ever seen! But time is running out with the closure looming and Jess becomes increasingly drawn to enigmatic Nik who joins forces with her and best friend Oliver to realise those plans.

Will a chance encounter on an aeroplane bring love to Jess's life or is this Christmas miracle too good to be true?”
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Thank you to @NetGalley @headofzeus #ariapublishing for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
This is my first book from Samantha Tonge. Reading about the Willow Court residents was fun. The rest of the story, which was mostly about the romcom side of things was okay. Some parts dragged on and sometimes felt like just unnecessary dialogue or musings. I did not connect with the characters. I felt something was missing for the story to have ended the way it did. However, it was quite a festive read.