Member Reviews
A sweet charming christmas read. The differents storylines intertwine nicely and the characters are very likeable. With the exaption of Sabi. She lacked growth and in the end didn't really learn anything of the whole messy situation.
I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Another festive book for you this week, although probably more seasonal than overly Christmassy. I love taking part in these Blog Tours because they introduce me to authors that I haven't read before. Jenny Kane is huge in the cosy romance sector and has published a number of book series already. Frost Falls in the first in her new Potting Shed series.
Maddie Willand has always dreamed of taking over her father's little nursery, The Potting Shed. After his sudden death she is shocked to discover that she has to share the nursery with bossy older sister Sabi Willand-Harris. Sabi doesn't really get her hands dirty and is much more interested in her status as wife to her architect husband, Henry.
Maddie is determined to try and keep the business going even though Sabi is tempted by the purchase offer from BIG - a major garden centre chain. With the money Sabi could buy the house of her dreams but it would mean stomping all over Maddie's hopes and aspirations. Even with the help of Ed, the handsome junior partner at Lyle & Tate solicitors, the future does not look bright.
Frost Falls is a lovely gentle read that explores family dynamics and the relationship between sisters with a little romance thrown in for good measure. It makes you wish that the Potting Shed really existed so that you pop along for your Christmas Tree and Poinsettia and catch up on the gossip with Petra in the shop. Looking forward to the next instalment already.
Supplied by Net Galley and Aria / Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.
UK Publication date: Oct 27 2022. 372 pages.
I REALLY enjoyed this story. It has some great characters that are fun to get to know and to follow along with them, and the cast as a whole was really great. I appreciated that there was a couple different topics in here that are not always seen in books: the first I have seen in different ways, but wage bracket differences. In this story we see two different examples. One being someone who has money and still feels the need to have more and more and more at the expense of those around her (and feeling as though she knows what is best for someone who is living in a lower wage bracket than her.) The second is actually someone who is in a lower wage bracket judging another character because they come from a family with money. Very interesting conversations were had!
The second topic was illiteracy. I feel that this is something that is not addressed frequently in stories and it was refreshing to see the representation of it in this story.
While I would not classify this as a Christmas story it certainly takes place around Christmas time. This book has a lot of heart and shows the kindness that can occur between humans. Would read it again as well as more stories by this author!!!
Thank you to Jenny Kane, Aria, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
A quick, easy read for me, nothing over the top but an enjoyable book.
The first in the Potting Shed series about Maddie and her family, the nursery and a father's death. You can see normal family events and happenings n this book, how families do and don't get along and how they cope with what life throws at them.
It isn't an exciting or thrilling book but is a good, enjoyable and easy to read book. One that can be read rather quickly and can be enjoyed with a cuppa or a glass of wine.
The Potting Shed has been in the family for years. Maddie helps her father run the business and they are having a family meeting to talk about what is going on with the business. But sadly, before they her dad can change his will. He passes away so unexpectedly and Sabi, Maddie’s sister thinks the best thing they can do is sell the business to a huge nursery business, but Maddie does not want to do that because she loves running the Potting Shed. With the help of workers at the Potting Shed Maddie thinks she can turn the business around before the deadline Sabi has given her.
I enjoyed watching the characters in the book come together and I am looking forward to the next in the The Potting Shed Series.
Thank you NetGalley, Jenny Kane and Aria & Aries for the book Frost Falls at The Potting Shed. This is my personal review.
I would like to thank Aries and Aria publishing for asking me to review this book.
Maddie helps her father run the family plant nursery called The Potting Shed, they have big plans and have a family meeting to discuss things. All seems well until her father unexpectedly passes away before changing his will. Now it looks like Maddie may lose the potting shed.
Sabi, Maddie’s older sister, thinks the best thing would be to sell the potting shed to a big conglomerate garden centre, that have approached her. Sabi is a social climber, who doesn’t really care about what her sister wants.
When Maddie finds out about the conglomerate, she decides to fight for the potting shed and to try and make the changes she and her father wanted. She asks the family lawyer for advice and things brings Ed into her life. With his knowledge and friendship, she maybe able to fight, but she needs to get her sister on side. Can the sisters move past their differences and work together?
This was a great start to a new series, good characters and plot. I enjoyed seeing the growth of Maddie and Sabi, their sister dynamic was well written and thought out. I enjoyed the side characters who added so much to the story, a number of them with their own reasons for coming to the potting shed.
I will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out.
Amazing. This was my first book by this author and I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. To begin with I was really undecided if I was going to enjoy it, initially I found Maddie hard to connect with but as soon as Ed came on the scene I was hooked. Bizarrely all the male characters, Ed, Henry and Jake really resonated with me and I enjoyed reading each of them, each supporting a strong woman and being supported in different ways. I loved the blossoming relationship of Jake and Petra and Maddie and Jake. Seeing a strong and supportive marriage between Henry and Sabi was lovely too.
This was a wonderful Christmas read and beautiful community spirit.
An enjoyable Christmas read. Full of family, fun, friendships and festivities.
I really enjoyed reading this book, following the life of Maddie who is faced with the prospect of losing her home, business & potentially her relationship with her sister, Sabi, as a big garden centre chain threatens to build opposite the small garden centre her father began & where the girls grew up. Thrown into turmoil by the prospect of losing everything she loves, Maddie turns to the family’s solicitor & meets Ed.
The story of the potential relationship between Maddie & Ed, their developing feelings and subsequent mix-ups and misunderstandings add to the enjoyment of this story. Fully-formed believable characters feature within a storyline that kept me interested from start to finish. Peppered with humour & touching moments, this is a perfect book for Christmas.
I really enjoyed this book, it was different but gave a lovely read. There's always a big giant of a company along with a crooked person in their midst. Well worth 5 stars and I recommend this to all.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
For Maddie, The Potting Shed is a really special place, after a sad time, her sister begins to talk and selling it.
But Maddie is determined to prove to her sister Sabi that she’s capable of keeping the business going.
The characters were relatable and grew as the story progressed.
A brilliant start to a new series, I am looking forward to getting to know more about The Willands and their lives.
I highly recommend this book.
i was really rooting for this book, but i could connect with it. i thought the characters were insufferable and ended up dnf-ing it 😞
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this cosy mystery story, great characters and a great storyline. Good read
Maddie can't believe her sister Sabi wants to sell the garden center her father ran for years! These two are approaching their grief very differently but Maddie is determined to fend off Sabi's plans, even though Sabi has control. She engages Ed. a lawyer to help her and that relationship will turn to more than friendship once Maddie comes to terms with some relationship issues in her past. This a "it takes a village" sort of novel set in a garden center complete with fun employees in Jake and Petra. No spoilers from me but .....Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice read.
A great start to a new series. Most of the characters were well written but Sabi remained evil to me, even in the end. She never fully learned what she did wrong, and was only quickly soothed by her husband every time she did something absolutely insane. Who does these things?
Maddie was a delight to read about as were the other characters (outside of Miriam). I think the story could have benefitted more from Sabi not being an evil witch to her sister. I personally would have never forgiven her actions.
There was so much to enjoy in this book, when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about the characters. Two sisters who are left wanting different things when their father dies. A young solicitor who goes out of his way to help and a plant nursery that needs money for refurbishment.
A book with a Christmas market, a Father Christmas grotto, cute dogs and splashing in puddles is a hit with me. I loved how Petra and Jake became friends and Jake overcame his insecurities. I would recommend this book and give it five stars
I do enjoy a Jenny Kane book. Easy, enjoyable reads & this book follows a tried & tested format. Girl meets boy, will they won't, they get together, lots being thrown at them, & then things turn out for the best.
Maddie is running The Potting Shed, a nursery & shop that is struggling. The business belonged to her late dad & was left to her & her sister Sabi. Sabi wants to sell!
A good story & a recommended read.
My cheeks hurt from smiling through this delightful book. This one kept me hooked and entertained until the last page… The characters each have these little pieces that make them such believable characters! This fabulous summer read is a gentle reminder love never gives up on anyone.
What an enjoyable romance story this was, with a lovely storyline and great characters I thoroughly enjoyed reading this first book in The Potting Shed series. Set in Devon at a small garden nursery I really felt I was there amongst the plants and bags of compost on those frosty December mornings. The storyline quickly acquainted me with the characters and their lives and I was really rooting for Maddie all the way through.
I loved the characters, they were really well written. The misunderstandings that led to overreactions and confusion seemed very real and believable. With a few exceptions I liked all the characters, and those few I wasn't supposed to like anyway.
This story had it all, family, love, good friends, gardening, coffee and winter days. Set where I live anyway, I could easily visualise the towns and roads described but even if I didn't I would have felt at home. This author can really immerse you in her stories, with her characters and settings. I look forward to more adventures in the Potting Shed and seeing how things develop and grow.
Good read. Great characters, enjoyed the setting, lots of side stories weaved into it and it flowed really well. A good read for a rubbish day. Will make you feel better!
In this book we follow 2 sisters and their hopes and Dreams
Stargazing Wellington boots Walks , Sign me up.
It was a sweet story, i really like to see the difference between the sisters, but still a strong bond between them.
I like the part of following their Dreams . They made them more relateble.
But was it a christmas book? Not in my opinion, of course there were elements of christmas in it. But not enough in my opinion. But it was still an entertaining book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion