🎅🏻 🎄 ❄️ 💕 "Christmas in Bayberry" (2020) 💕 ❄️ 🎄 🎅🏻 - Book Review #CBPrism
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
Christmas in Bayberry:
A Small-Town Christmas Romance from Hallmark Publishing
By Jennifer Faye
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 238 Pages
July 7th 2020 by Hallmark Publishing
He's trying not to fall for Bayberry and her again.
Kate Taylor knows what she wants in life: to one day run her family's candle business, which is at the heart of the close-knit community of Bayberry, Vermont. But the company isn't doing well.
Wesley Adams is on the fast track to be an assistant vice president at his financial firm in Manhattan. Before the promotion is announced, he's sent to this small town from his past to do an analysis of the candle company.
He doesn't expect to bump into his childhood crush, Kate, and when he does, sparks fly. As he spends time in Bayberry, he falls for the town's Christmas traditions and for her. But he has a responsibility to submit an honest report. Will it extinguish Kate's dreams ¦along with any chance they have for a future together?
This heart-warming romance contains a free Hallmark original recipe for Cast Iron Beef Stew.
(Affiliate links included.)
Go to Jennifer's Contact Page HERE and order your bookmark(s)!
Please state the quantity you desire and which bookmarks/titles you are interested in.
NOTE: A big apology but due to postal fees, only available to continental U.S. residents.
About the Author
Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.
Tour Schedule
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card plus an autographed copy of CHRISTMAS IN BAYBERRY, Yankee Candle Bayberry, Wilton cookie cutter, Hallmark ornament, Hallmark Light-up earrings, Hallmark glass and more!
US only
Ends July 22, 2020
My Review
Thank
you in advance to the author, Jennifer Faye; along with Prism Book Tours for
providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required or
requested and all words are my own.
While
this isn’t the first novel I’ve read by the author, this is the first non-Harlequin
(Romance line) novel of hers I have read. The writing style in this books is
far different than those novels. It’s beautiful, moving, and so heartwarming.
So,
when I saw this book … I HAD to have it. Why?
For
those who know me – this revelation isn’t a surprise. For those who don’t know
me, well, here is a tidbit …
I LOVE
Christmas!! Despite being born at the end of April, I LOVE Christmas. In fact
it is what my mother deems my holiday. It simply is me. I’ll decorate as soon
as I possibly can (even on Thanksgiving day). I shop early, and I LOVE getting
new ornaments, paper, décor … it’s is my holiday.
“Christmas
in Bayberry” is from Hallmark Publishing, so it is obviously a clean read –
there is absolutely no foul or questionable language and there are no intimate references.
Readers from teens to the older folks who enjoy these types will definitely be
able to read this novel without questioning the content or appropriateness.
The
cover is absolutely as charming as the book seems. Christmas, romance, small
town, clean read? It was definitely a winner even before I started reading it.
And, the fact there is a candle shop at the center of the story? This is
PERFECTION for a summer read to distract us from what’s going on – or reading
it again for the holidays.
This
was such a WONDERFUL read that I found it difficult to take notes for the
review as I was reading it. And, it is one of those books I easily see becoming
a Christmas tradition every year.
Faye’s
vivid, descriptive, realistic writing made me feel like I was walking along
with the characters in this story. I could definitely see this in my head as a
movie, especially with the third person story-telling with alternating POV between
Kate and Wes. It was easy to read chapter after chapter and hesitate before
putting it down. And, the more I read it, the more I didn’t want to put it
down. Though, realistically one has to.
It was an
absolutely delightful read. The small town “every one works there or knows
someone who does” plot line was perfection. That’s what drew me to this novel –
like Kate, I LOVE Christmas (yes, I know I already stated that). I definitely
identified with that aspect of her character.
I also
LOVED the “fortune-telling” Santa that Kate kept running into that we never
find out who it really was – or if he is even really there. Her optimism was
infectious as well, along with what she did for the community.
Wes was
also a wonderful character. It didn’t take him long before he started
re-thinking his career, Bayberry Candle company, and staying in Bayberry. I had
my ideas of where his character was going as these types of reads are
predictable, but also because of a key “place” in this novel. I just knew what
he was going to do.
It was
interesting to see Wes slowly re-adapting to the town and enjoying his life
while there along with learning that there is more to life than work. His boss
was inexcusably rude (though not entirely unrealistic) – expecting Wes to
continue working after 7pm. As his time in Bayberry increases, Wes slowly
realizes the higher he climbs, the more lonely he is. And, despite the answer
being right there for him – he is still conflicted with the choices before him.
Something I am sure a lot of people can identify with.
The slow,
but cute romance was not unexpected given the fact Wes’ mother was friends with
Kate’s aunt; along with the fact the two kids had gone to Junior High together
for a short time. I was almost in tears when Kate came across the ornament Wes
gave her that Christmas, which incidentally was the same year Kate’s parents
died in a car accident.
In
addition to saving the company (and town), this was also about second chances
and Wes finally gets to ask Kate to the dance he’d been wanting to for 17
years.
Given
the tone of the story it is generally positive and upbeat, there is of course
some mild drama (accident at the candle company); but a lot of heart,
inspiration, and love.
As
candles are integral to my life – I use them when I write, during the holidays,
and even when I read – having a candle company at the heart of this story
somehow made it personal. Add in a close
knit community with the “childhood crush”, and this turns into a magical, feel
good, festive, up-lifting, and fun read that is easily a re-read year after
year.
Kate also
learns that loyalty is a good thing, but sometimes change is necessary to keep
what matters most.
I highly
recommend this sweet book for those who LOVE clean, feel good, small-town
Christmas romances. Fans of Hallmark movies will more than likely love this
story. And, I’m pretty certain fans of the author will be delighted as well.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
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