What do you think?
Rate this book
A Holly Bay Christmas
Fabrian Books' feel good novels are heart-warming romantic stories that leave you believing a happy ever after does exist.
Maddie owns her dream business running a combined bookshop and tea rooms, in the beautiful Cornish village of Holly Bay. When Ben arrives looking for a place to rent, Maddie is keen to help him find a home in the town she loves, where they really know how to celebrate Christmas. Stepping in to help Maddie raise money for a charity that’s close to her heart, and even dressing as an elf on Christmas gift day, Ben seems too good to be true. Letting her guard down, she realises she’s falling for the newcomer, but, when it turns out he’s got a hidden agenda, she can’t wait for him leave. Will the storm that breaks out two days before Christmas, and cuts off Holly Bay from the rest of the world, give Ben another chance to prove himself to Maddie? Or is she destined to spend another Christmas with only her books for company?
Maddie owns her dream business running a combined bookshop and tea rooms, in the beautiful Cornish village of Holly Bay. When Ben arrives looking for a place to rent, Maddie is keen to help him find a home in the town she loves, where they really know how to celebrate Christmas. Stepping in to help Maddie raise money for a charity that’s close to her heart, and even dressing as an elf on Christmas gift day, Ben seems too good to be true. Letting her guard down, she realises she’s falling for the newcomer, but, when it turns out he’s got a hidden agenda, she can’t wait for him leave. Will the storm that breaks out two days before Christmas, and cuts off Holly Bay from the rest of the world, give Ben another chance to prove himself to Maddie? Or is she destined to spend another Christmas with only her books for company?
144 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2016
104 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 6, 2017
Loved this book. It's everything I imagined. Lovely location, romance and Christmassy
March 22, 2022
What a roller coaster of a journey
I have loved reading about the people of holly bay. They have been brought to life by Jo and are such a close nit family who pull together in a time of disaster. Ben saves the day and i thing there is another book to be written to let us in to how the town picks it self up and dust its self down. It would be loverly to see what happens next in holly bay. I wait in anticipation.
I have loved reading about the people of holly bay. They have been brought to life by Jo and are such a close nit family who pull together in a time of disaster. Ben saves the day and i thing there is another book to be written to let us in to how the town picks it self up and dust its self down. It would be loverly to see what happens next in holly bay. I wait in anticipation.
November 17, 2018
This book is like my dream. Owning a combined shop of a bookshop and a tearoom would be heaven. Top that set in a village that is Christmas mad.
I loved this book so much my favourite Christmas read so far.
Loving finding a fab new author xx
I loved this book so much my favourite Christmas read so far.
Loving finding a fab new author xx
December 4, 2025
Cute little holiday story with some drama. I have come to realize that I don’t like hallmark type books, but this author did a good job of keeping me engaged with the story and working it out for the characters to have their HEA.
August 5, 2017
I read this on the Kindle
This was a nice book to read made you want to go there & not just at christmas time
you had romance christmas & nice people what more could you want in a book
This was a nice book to read made you want to go there & not just at christmas time
you had romance christmas & nice people what more could you want in a book
December 22, 2018
A nice Christmas read
January 3, 2021
but needs better editing
December 19, 2021
I always love to read warm holiday reads this time of year. This is certainly, as described, a feel-good novel. Just what I was seeking for this season
December 30, 2021
Easy reading
As with all her books this is easy reading and you soon get caught up in the story. A feel good book for Christmas or anytime.
As with all her books this is easy reading and you soon get caught up in the story. A feel good book for Christmas or anytime.
October 12, 2022
Its a good book but you were the end before you knew it.. and slighty left hanging
October 29, 2022
Such a lovely story
I really enjoyed this story, a proper Christmas love story and a really happy ending. I am going to read the next book of Holly Bay
I really enjoyed this story, a proper Christmas love story and a really happy ending. I am going to read the next book of Holly Bay
December 21, 2016
Maddie owns Basil’s Adventures, bookstore and tea rooms, named after her much loved and missed grandfather, the man who shaped her love of books and reading. With the inheritance he left Maddie, she was able to move to Holly Bay and realise her dream of opening her own bookstore. I think that would be my dream job too!
Maddie loves her work, her friends and living in Holly Bay. The only thing she is missing is someone to share it all with. So when Ben Cartwright arrives in the village looking for a special dress for his niece, it seems Maddie’s single days might be over. Ben is attractive and appears to return Maddie’s interest…and he’s looking for a property to rent in the village.
Ben gives the impression of being friendly and up front, joining in with community activities, but appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Ben has his own agenda and when Holly Bay is hit by a terrible storm which destroys the only way in and out of the village, Maddie and her friends find out, to their dismay, just what Ben is up to.
’Tis the season, and I do like to have a feel good Christmas story or three ready to go. This definitely fits the bill, it’s a lovely, cosy read that made me want to move to Holly Bay immediately. A gorgeous little seaside village in Cornwall with a tight knit and caring community, filled with warm and likeable characters. It’s written in an enjoyable, easy to read style making it a perfect book for the time of year.
Maddie loves her work, her friends and living in Holly Bay. The only thing she is missing is someone to share it all with. So when Ben Cartwright arrives in the village looking for a special dress for his niece, it seems Maddie’s single days might be over. Ben is attractive and appears to return Maddie’s interest…and he’s looking for a property to rent in the village.
Ben gives the impression of being friendly and up front, joining in with community activities, but appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Ben has his own agenda and when Holly Bay is hit by a terrible storm which destroys the only way in and out of the village, Maddie and her friends find out, to their dismay, just what Ben is up to.
’Tis the season, and I do like to have a feel good Christmas story or three ready to go. This definitely fits the bill, it’s a lovely, cosy read that made me want to move to Holly Bay immediately. A gorgeous little seaside village in Cornwall with a tight knit and caring community, filled with warm and likeable characters. It’s written in an enjoyable, easy to read style making it a perfect book for the time of year.
February 4, 2017
Maddie is content with her life, running her dream bookshop/cafe in a perfect seaside village. But a visit to her shop by a stranger turns things upside down, when the stranger attempts to purchase the lease of the shop next door and her own on behalf of a major book / wine bar chain.
I really enjoyed this little seasonal story and will look out for more titles by this author.
I really enjoyed this little seasonal story and will look out for more titles by this author.
January 3, 2017
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I chose it because it had a Christmas title.
Whilst I enjoyed it the beginning for me seemed to take a while to get going, but I persevered as it did get a better read towards the middle.
Whilst I enjoyed it the beginning for me seemed to take a while to get going, but I persevered as it did get a better read towards the middle.
December 19, 2016
've r y good
I couldn't put the book down can't wait to read more and hope you have already got some more of the same for me to read excellent
I couldn't put the book down can't wait to read more and hope you have already got some more of the same for me to read excellent
December 27, 2016
Predictable and easy read
An easy read for over the Christmas season which was slow and didn't need much brain power to get through,
An easy read for over the Christmas season which was slow and didn't need much brain power to get through,
January 10, 2017
The story line is ok and it makes a good read, but nothing was outstanding in this book for me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews