Holly Berry on kohanenud oma eluga Cotswoldis ja lõpuks ometi on tema sõprus sarmika pankuri Beniga võtnud romantilise pöörde. Ent elul on varuks üllatus: Holly ja Beni vahele lööb kiilu naise endine kallim Dan, kel on kindel plaan Holly endale tagasi võita. Pettunud Holly pühendub poepidamisele, küpsetamisele ja Leinapaju hooldekodu elanikele bingoõhtute korraldamisele. Oma suureks üllatuseks leiab ta sealt eest pigem noortekeskusse sobiva lõbusa ja lärmaka õhkkonna. Holly sõbruneb hooldekodu energiliste asukatega, sealhulgas särtsaka vanadaami Verityga, kes oma glamuuriga siiani kõigile silmad ette annab. Eakatega suheldes hakkab Holly oma eluväärtusi tasapisi ümber hindama. Ta otsustab oma uutele sõpradele organiseerida tantsuõhtu, kuid peab kõik selle kulud katma ise. Raha kokkusaamiseks korraldatakse oksjon, milles löövad kaasa kõik külaelanikud, ent kas tegutsemine hea eesmärgi nimel toob teineteisele lähemale ka Holly ja Beni?
Holly ja tema sõprade tegemistest saab lugeda ka raamatust „Uute alguste kommipood“ (2022).
Hannah Lynn is a multi award winning novelist. Publishing her first book, Amendments – a dark, dystopian speculative fiction novel, in 2015. Her second book, The Afterlife of Walter Augustus – a contemporary fiction novel with a supernatural twist – went on to win the 2018 Kindle Storyteller Award and the Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Best Adult Ebook.
Born in 1984, Hannah grew up in the Cotswolds, UK. After graduating from university, she spent 15 years as a teacher of physics, first in the UK and then Thailand, Malaysia, Austria and Jordan. It was during this time, inspired by the imaginations of the young people she taught, she began writing short stories for children, and later adult fiction.
With over 30 publications spanning a number of genres and translated into a dozen languages, Hannah has proven herself to be both an accomplished and prolific author.
Now settled back in the UK with her husband, daughter and clowder of cats, she spends her days writing romantic comedies and historical fiction. Her first historical fiction novel, Athena's Child, was also a 2020 Gold Medalist at the Independent Publishers Awards.
Oh my goodness, I just finished Love Blooms at the Second Chances Sweet Shop by Hannah Lynn, and I am OBSESSED! 😍 This book had me giggling, kicking my feet in excitement, and crying like a baby. The story takes off after Holly buys Just One More, a charming sweet shop in a quaint Cotswolds village. This was super fun to read, and the mix of romance, humour, and heartfelt moments made it an absolute delight.
The characters are so relatable and lovable, with some genuinely hilarious moments sprinkled throughout. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and the ending? It was bittersweet (read: I cried my eyes out), yet it was utterly perfect. If you're looking for a feel-good read that tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you grinning like a Cheshire cat, this is it. It also had super cute Christmas vibes, which I loved. 4.5 stars because nothing's perfect, but this comes pretty darn close! 🌟
A return to the Just One More sweet shop sees Holly in the midst of a rather complicated love life, or rather, a lack of. I don’t think this second book of the series was as good as the first, but I still enjoyed Holly Berry and the sweetness that comes from running a sweet shop in the country.
The story follows on from the previous; although Lynn gives plenty of back information at the start of the book, I think this is best appreciated having read the first story. You definitely get more of an understanding of the different character connections. Whilst the first book was all about Holly establishing herself of the owner of Just One More, Lynn turns this narrative to Holly’s love life. She is in a fledgling relationship with local bank manager, Ben, (also her next door neighbour), but their dates are a long time coming and the atmosphere when they are together is incredibly awkward. I found my toes curling at the forced atmosphere between the two and could understand why Holly questions whether pursuing a relationship is the right move. After all, when not trying to be romantic, everything just comes so much more naturally.
Yet, Holly’s past catches up with her and this adds further strain to her complicated relationship with Ben. The past becomes relentless, stubborn and made me want to scream for the lack of listening. Even Holly’s blood boils and I was curious to see how she would deal with this added stress. When Holly starts volunteering at the local elderly care home, I was surprised by the direction that Lynn takes the story. However, I thought this gave the novel a breath of fresh air and loved reading about the different characters that Holly encounters at Bingo night, especially Verity. Holly herself thrives on the good vibes, causing her to run a fund-raising event with the care home residents at heart.
I was surprised to see the story conclude at Christmas but, never fear, this is hardly a festive read! It definitely did not have me yearning for my advent calendar! Instead, I think this adds to the atmosphere of the story, particularly in the closing scenes. Otherwise, this is a read that is a great, sugary pick-me-up and none of the characters are unlikeable, even the desperate Dan.
I think I found the story a bit too predictable at times, making me less invested in the story. For sure, the writer follows a well-known formula and whilst this made for a less taxing read, I think I was after a bit more of a chewy read, rather than one that simply melts in your mouth. (I’m trying to go for a sweet metaphor here, I hope it’s worked!) I definitely enjoyed the setting and seeing what happens next to Holly, but hope the writer adds a few more surprises to the next novel.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Holly and Ben are such a sweet couple so having Dan in the mix really put a spanner in the works. Quick, easy read - it's like you're part of their circle, experiencing the highs and lows. I bawled like a baby towards the end. Sweet, funny, frustrating and romantic.
This charming story was a cosy and quick read that had some touching moments. I enjoyed Holly’s journey towards personal growth and self-acceptance. The romance aspect was sweet and enjoyable, with a lovely hero, but despite the title I didn’t feel that the love story was the main focus of the book. This is mostly about Holly coming to recognise her own strengths and abilities, and how she becomes more active in her community. It’s also about the importance of friendship, about what a healthy relationship is, and about overcoming obstacles - all done with a light touch.
Romance at the sweet shop of second chances by Hannah Lynn. The Holly Berry Sweet Shop Series Book 2. While Holly Berry may have finally purchased Just One More and landed a date with one of Bourton-on-the-Water’s most eligible bachelors it is far from plain sailing. A face from the past threatens to torpedo Holly’s fledgling relationship before it even gets going. Will everything go according to plan? Or is Holly’s dream life at risk of turning sour? I did enjoy this book. A lovely read. I liked Holly’s character. I do hope there will be more to come. 5*.
Gosh, so much was packed into this riveting tale! We have an ex who just won’t go away like a bad smell, miscommunication with love birds, a wonderful friendship with a lady at a care home, and loss, that’s when I cried.
I adore seeing Holly and seeing her growth during this book. The shock she felt when Dan just turned up and wouldn’t go away, I felt too and then his crappy gaslighting obnoxious behaviour. Well, Holly tolerated more than I would have. What an idiot and so delusional.
I adore Ben too, he’s perfect for Holly but it just felt like it wasn’t meant to be in this book, and that did not make me happy. From a terrible second date to Dan to well just everything!
Then Verity! If I had her wardrobe and her spritely behaviour at her age, I would be over the moon! She was fabulous as she glided in to play bingo and into my heart!
I did love that this book took us out of the sweet shop and into town to meet new people and enjoy the place we are in. I did miss the sweet shop, but we still went to get our humbugs and rhubarbs and custards.
This series is just so sweet, and so much fun, and yes it made me cry….. I just lost myself in the narration from the start and swept up until the end. This is one I finished in a day as I just couldn’t stop listening, Gloria Sanders is just glorious!
I couldn’t wait to read this book after reading the first one, this is the second book in the Sweet Shop series and it definitely lived up to my expectations. This charming read continued from the last book where the MC Holly is successfully managing her cute sweet shop. I was expecting more romance in this book as Holly and Ben’s relationship develops it didn’t develop fast enough for me.
The plot twist of Holly’s ex appearing out of nowhere added to the excitement of the plot and I loved the adorable friendship between Holly and Verity. Hannah Lynn does a wonderful job of character development. I would definitely recommend the entire series – they were a heart-warming read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.
This was such a cute book, I love this series. First we have the amazing sweet shop that always makes me want to visit as it sounds so good. The. We have her ex Dan appear which made me so annoyed because I was rooting for her and Ben until he arrived. I love the whole care home scene, I thought it was sweet until the sad passing of verity which did get me. I was so happy Holly finally got to kiss Ben because it felt like a long time coming. I can’t wait for more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Yet another enjoyable read for Hannah Lynn. The story of Holly Berry and her new life at the Just One More sweet shop continues with Holly settling in to her new life and with the view of romance on the horizon. Holly loves her new life, the friends she has made and her possible blossoming relationship with the very serious Ben. This however is at risk when an unexpected visitor from her past shows up at just the wrong moment that could spell disaster for her and Ben. Holly throws herself into work and into volunteering at the local aged care home where she meets a very vibrant and extravagant resident who she develops a mutual friendship with. As her personal life spirals Holly plans a community auction to raise funds for a dance at the aged care home the includes her auctioning off 2 hours of her time in a master cooking class with the winner. This was again an easy and enjoyable read that I both laughed and cried in. I love how easy these books are to read and to immerse yourself in once you start them. Although mostly lighthearted there are some serious undertones also but not too much that it brings down the mood of the book. I read this in a day and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The second in the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series. Holly has settled back in to the village of Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds and her sweet shop has really taken off like space dust! Her life seems to be set on course with romance in the offing, but will a blast from the past thwart the path to true love?
I enjoyed meeting up with Holly and her friends again. They are a fun and likeable cast of characters. This is an entertaining sequel to the first book, The Sweet Shop of Second Chances, a sweet little tale without being too sugar coated. It has a frosting of realism in the form of the importance of friendship and a sprinkling of romance in the form of Ben, the bank manager. Well written, easy and engaging, it’s well worth the read especially whilst devouring a bag of pick’n’mix!
Another delightful instalment in this wonderful series!
Holly is now settling into life in Bourton-on-the-Water now that ‘Just One More’ is finally hers. Selling sweets all day and lodging with her friend, life is settling down and, to make it all even more perfect, she has a date with Ben, her friendly bank manager and next-door neighbour. But things don’t always go as smoothly as planned . . .
Picking up from where the first book left off, it didn’t take long for me to get right back into Holly’s story and recall the other characters. Holly becomes more involved in the community now that she’s settled, but her past life hasn’t quite let her go yet. This is another beautifully written instalment in this wonderfully entertainment series, and one where I’m already looking forward to the third novel. A really warm, enjoyable read which I’m happy to recommend and give 4.5*.
After enjoying the first book so much I was delighted to read this one and it did not disappoint. We return to Holly Berry and her wonderful little sweet shop which is going from strength to strength with the help of her new community. Holly has a date with the seriously delicious Ben and a wonderful abundance of friends and neighbours her new life is going swimmingly until a face from the past turns up and everything changes again but this time Holly is strong enough to get what she wants out of life thanks to the message from her new friend Verity that she needs to live her life to the fullest. An adorable feel good read. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a nice cost read.
A trip back to Holly Berry and her charming Sweet Shop was just the sweet treat that I needed! This book is centred around Holly and her continuing reawakening, including a budding - sometimes stumbling - love life but it is the additional characters that help to make this book special. We once again meet the irrepressible Jamie and Drey but Hannah Lynn has now added a fantastic cast of characters at the local care home, one of whom you, alongside Holly, completely take into your heart. A lovely read, perfect for winter months and a hunker down on the sofa.
This is an enchanting second story of Holly Berry and Ben. Holly hasn’t become owner of the sweet shop she’s always loved and the business is now making progress. Her friendship with Ben seems to be improving too, that is until a face from the past turns up intent on being in her life. But Holly now has friends, a life in the village and is happy. She doesn’t want Dan but he won’t listen. Can Ben come to the rescue? A story of ups and downs, highs and lows, smiles and tears and a lovely look to start the year with. Can’t wait to see how Holly’s and Ben’s story develops.
As we revisit the lovely Holly Berry as she continues to rebuild her life, running her sweet shop and becoming more involved in the community. The will they, won't they relationship with neighbour Ben which involves some very funny, slightly dangerous dates and the reappearance of a very unwelcome face make this a story full of character and heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more adventures of Holly Berry and friends.
I loved this one as much as the last. I am one for a series as it gives you the chance to watch the characters you enjoy so much carrying on their journey. Holly Berry settles into village life and makes her mark, but the arrival of her past to overshadow her accomplishments throws a spanner into the works. Lots to keep the reader enthralled with this heart warming piece of escapism.
I loved catching up with Holly and Ben and the inclusion of the lovelies at the care home especially Verity who had lived a lovely life ..When Dan can back into the equation I thought Ben would have put up more of a fight though ...Anyway things worked out in the end ...Will there be another one ...I hope so x
Awww these two mcs! This cozy romance is so very angsty. I do really like the side characters, especially the friendship between fmc and her elderly friend in the care home.
3 star listen just like the first one. I’m looking forward to book three.
Enjoyable second instalment of this series. There is a lack of sweet shop action but enjoyable none the less as the storylines centre around events outside of the shop. It was great to watch the developments of current characters and meet new personalities too. Heart warming and light this is a perfect read (and series) to get lost in.
Review I'm back for the second instalment and what a story. It is heartbreaking, beautiful and funny.
I loved Verity, she reminded me of my own grandma, such a force of nature. The friendship she formed with Holly was so beautifully created, it really warmed my heart.
I am so invested in this series that I can't wait to read Book 3 to see what happens next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The business is doing well, and Holly finally has a date. All will run smoothly. Or not... Another great story that just hit the spot for me. The characters are captivating, the storyline solid and the setting used to great effect. So when's book 3 out?
I liked this book better than the first one. Maybe because I know the characters better. Though their path as a bit wayward, Ben and Holly finally got it right. I look forward to the next book!