This was cute! A sweet story and an easy read and a really great palate cleanser between some heavier books!

This book has become my favourite one of the ‘Sweet Shop’ series so far and I am excited to see what happens next with Holly Berry. In this story, I thought the writer made the plot quite unpredictable and I enjoyed not being able to foresee how the novel would conclude.

Book three of the series, it was great to return to the familiar faces of the story. There are a few new characters and I liked how refreshing their additions were. Furthermore, knowing the backstory and relationships of the characters from previous books added to my enjoyment of this story; I think this is a series where starting from the beginning is a big bonus.

One more we are treated to endless jars of endless sweets, although Holly’s current obsession with chocolate limes sounded rather gross… even to my chocolate-mad tastebuds! It was lovely to see her sweet shop thriving and how life seems to be just right for the protagonist… until family throws a spanner in the works. Family complications from her own side and Ben’s puts a massive strain on her relationship with Ben and this takes the central focus of the story. With questions arising about commitment and closeness, Holly suddenly feels that Ben is not wholly invested in their relationship. The scene where Ben and Holly are having a meal with Ben’s sister was particularly awkward and I really sympathised with how Holly was made to feel.

Yet, family complications are just the beginning with a new housemate to contend with and the return of an old nemesis. This just added to the stresses that Holly feels and I admired how she kept on persevering when things got tough – I think I would have screamed into a pillow at several points! Undoubtedly, Holly knows she needs to keep looking after herself and her business, instead of hiding away, so it was lovely to see her meet these issues head on.

Watching Holly navigate the bumps in the road that life throws at you was satisfying; I think her character has really grown since readers first met her in book one. I like the community that has now been established by the writer and am looking forward to continuing with this series.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read the other two books of this series and enjoyed this book just as much. I can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you NetGalley, publishers and Hannah M. Lynn for gifting me a copy of Family Ties at the Second Chance Sweet Shop in return for my honest opinion.

3.5/5 stars

Life has finally settled down for Holly Berry... Holly’s family has always been there for her, and when her dad is made redundant she is only too happy to help out. But giving her father a job wasn’t quite what she had in mind.

And when she tries to involve herself with Ben’s family, tensions rise quicker than one of her delicious cakes. Will family complications be too much for her blossoming relationship or is this the next step on the path to happy ever after?

What I loved
-Holly's journey is such a wonderful story to read about! Hannah M. Lynn did a great job developing her characters!
-There are summaries when something is brought up from another book in the series so minimal confusing moments

What I liked
-I really enjoy the continued storyline.
-The addition of new characters in each book, but it isn't an overwhelming amount.

What I wish was different
-Some of the characters were stand offish and annoying. I couldn't seem to connect at all with them.

Final thoughts
This is a well written book that is a fast passed read. There is great character development and I can't wait to see what happens next with Holly and Ben!

In this series, the author explores Holly's ongoing journey in a way that keeps her character authentic by addressing the consequences of her past decisions. The story begins with Holly's struggles with her own relationships and those of her roommate, which might be relatable for new readers but could feel slightly prolonged for those familiar with the characters. The plot takes a dramatic turn as a figure from Holly's past reappears, setting the stage for the next book. I recommend reading this series to connect the dots between the books, as no single installment brings closure to Holly's personal growth. It's rewarding to watch her gradually navigate life's challenges. While some books in the series may be more appealing than others, it's a great choice for readers who enjoy a continuous character development narrative with straightforward and emotionally engaging writing.

This is the third book in the ‘Second chances sweets shop’ series. There is mention of what happened in book one and two, but that is summarized so you can red this book as a stand-alone.
This book feels a bit like Bridget Jones’ Diary, with Holly being like Bridget, Ben is a stuffy version of Darcy and Giles is Daniel Clever, the slick bad guy played by Hugh Grant. Of course it is not the same plot, but with the Bridget series there is also a HEA between Bridget/Holly and Darcy/Ben after which they get into a silly fight, they breakup and then bad guy Daniel/Giles turns up again.
Like Bridget and Darcy, Holly and Ben are blissfully dating for three months now. Then one day they have a fight and Holly thinks they broke up. That’s when the story started losing me. I kept thinking ‘When is Ben going to tell her that they just had a fight?’ since neither of them uttered the phrase that they had broken up, but go my astonishment that is the status quo. Holly also makes assumptions (Ella) that aren’t based on anything, so she just makes it up. Also I didn’t understand why Holly would want to accompany Giles to meet his sister and having a late-night pizza with him, after all he has done to her and her business. I was also a bit disappointed in Ben, for being so incredibly passive and not going to see Holly and sit down and talk things over! I like the Hero to be manly and assertive instead of a wait and see attitude.
I appreciate that this was a clean story. The secondary characters were funny. It was no surprise that Holly’s dad made a cake of himself as an employee at the candy shop. And Fin’s organic views on life were so ridiculous that they were funny:
After taking a shower: <i>I’ve even left some of my cucumber-and-apple body wash in there. It’s made with essential oils. Organic ones, obviously.</i>
After folding hundreds of paper crane birds: <i>I found once I was in the rhythm, it became almost meditative. I was listening to an immersive sound bath. It really helped me connect with the purpose of what I was doing.</i>
I kept thinking of Lars in ‘Serendipity’ in my mind while reading about Fin! Overall, a nice read but I missed the sizzling romance that you might expect from the Hero and heroine. Jamie and Fin had more chemistry and spark together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A good read. But Holly really needs to decide if she is going to be with Ben and stay with him or get over him. The constant toeing and froing has covered two books and although cute at first gets a little old quickly.

A cute addition to the series but I think I'm starting to hate Holly Berry. She is not a very likeable character. And can we have just one book where she doesn't break up with Ben in the first 10 pages and then spend the rest of the book pining for him? Literally the plot of 2 books now.
Still cute though.

Family Ties at the Second Chances Sweet Shop - Hannah Lynn

I had previously read High Hopes at the second chances sweet shop, and I must say how lovely it was to re-visit the characters and especially the sweet shop which is just pure nostalgia. These books are a lovely warm and cosy read, and provide some lovely quick reading escapism. You do not need to read these books as a series, as they are very much stand alone stories, but they are enjoyable as follow on's. Thank you so much Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

I surprisingly read this book out of order. I read it after the fourth, and this might be the reason I did not enjoy it as much.
Although Holly's life should have levelled off by now, the author ensured she continued to be realistic by chalking out how the previous decisions would pan out.
Holly spends the first part of the book coming to terms with her own relationship status and that of her roommate. Having already met the pair, I felt like she went a little overboard. Newer audiences might better appreciate this sequence of events.
Things take a serious turn, and another face from the past turns up to muddle Holly's head. After reading this, the start of the next book definitely made more sense.
I would recommend reading this to connect the dots between the other books.
This series is the kind that is a joy for people who enjoy books that continue a tale. No one book is enough to close the chapter of Holly's growth arc. There was something satisfying about seeing her tackle her life bit by bit. I may have liked some of the books more than others, but I highly recommend this series for people who like to follow a single lead protagonist with minimal distractions as she learns and changes.
The author's writing is simple, to the point and flows, making each book a quick and easy read, even with emotional ups and downs.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I really enjoyed this book it was so sweet and interesting. A great beach read. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Whilst I enjoyed this book, I was a little confused at the order the series is running in.. this is the 3rd book of the series but yet we are set BEFORE book 2. So it took me a little while to get my head around!

There wasn’t toooo much storyline involving Holly’s dad, which I thought there would be given the title and I find the involvement of Giles a little tiresome. Either Holly gets with him or she gets rid!

Other than that, it was an enjoyable read. Holly is a little miserable in character but she does make me laugh. Overall a nice, easy read

Book 3 of the series
We found out Holly was pregnant in the last book and this book looks into how she is going to manage as her relationship with Ben isn’t working out how she expects it to
I read this book to see if my opinion of Holly changes, unfortunately for me her behaviour got even worse and I really disliked her, but again that is just my opinion
Once again great writing which made me carry on reading to see if she changed

I read both this (the third book) and the last one in one day as they are such easy reading books.
In this one we are back at The Second Chance Sweet shop where Holly is struggling with her relationship with Ben and finds she is now pregnant.

Another sweet, charming, easy to read book set in a quant and charming English village. I enjoy books like this for just that reason and find them a joy to read after reading more heavily intense books. This always lightens my mood and makes me smile.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A sweet romance, no pun intended, set in small town England. Holly and Ben are struggling, and end their relationship. Then she finds out she is pregnant. Good story, good characters and a fun and easy read. Would recommend.

A fabulous series, this really did the other books justice and although it van be read as a standalone, I'd reccomend the other books highly!
A sweet and uplifting read, full of family drama! I love these books, although you know the outcome, it's a real treat getting there. What better place than it being set in an adorable sweet shop?!

What a lovely, lovely story.. If you haven't read the earlier books in this series you really must. Set in the Cotswold so you can imagine what life is like and this is how the story unfolds. Hannah has given given us a wonderful series, but then all her books are a joy to read. Highly recommend you read this, thank you Hannah, giving you 5 stars wish it could be more. Can't wait for your next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

This book is part 3 in the series
, although it can be read as a standalone novel. I do recommend reading the previous books first though.
This book is well balanced between high drama and humour. There was a lot of miscommunication between Holly and Ben. It was very easy to read and I really enjoyed reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.

Another cute story from Hannah Lynn, following the sweet shop Just One More. Easy to read, this is the third book in the series.

Another solid read dromedary the sweet shop series! The story line is undoubtedly a bit more serious and "real life," but the whimsy, escapism, and joy is still very much present. The characters have evolved throughout the books and seem like real friends. It moves quickly and, before you know it, you're on the last page wishing it wasn't over. Hannah has a real winner in this series and I can't wait to read the next!