🎅🏻 🎄 ❄️ 💕 "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

She's trying to save the family candle company.
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.
Feel free to order extra to share with your favorite bookstore, library and family/friends.

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


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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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

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