Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop
About the Book:
Love is in the air…
After difficult times, Holly is finally adjusting to her new normal. Her daughter Hope is happy, she’s created a beautiful home, and an unexpected offer may mean fantastic opportunities for her sweet shop, Just One More.
But her sense of calm is shattered when best friend Giles drops a bombshell – a proposal to Sienna, a woman Holly barely knows and who isn’t right for Giles at all.
For Giles’s sake, she tries to make peace with Sienna, throwing herself into wedding planning. But as everyone else cheers on the ‘happy’ couple, Holly’s left questioning whether her doubts are about them – or about something in her own heart…
Return to the cosy world of the Cotswolds in this heartwarming story of love, friendship and second chances – perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Jessica Redland.
My Review:
Happy Ever After at the Second Chances Sweet Shop is the eighth book in the Holly Berry Sweet Shop series. I have not read any of the previous books, and will be doing so as soon as possible. I'm not going to lie, parts of the book didn't make sense to me but only because I think they must have referenced a previous book in the series. This didn't detract from the story since I mostly figured everything out but I would definitely recommend reading the Holly Berry Sweet Shop books in order.
Love is in the air in Happy Ever After at the Second Chance Sweet Shop, but it isn't necessarily the best type of love or the kind of love anyone is expecting. Her bestie, Giles, just announced his engagement to a new person to the group. Sienna and Giles haven't been together very long (in Giles relationship terms) but yet he drops to one knee in front of their entire friend group and asks for her hand. Now Holly is faced the reality that her friendship with Giles may change, and she finally admits what her heart has been trying to tell her all along. But she might be too late.
I really enjoyed this story. I may not have a lot of the backstory but I loved the path carved out for a second chance romance. Holly gets into a few situations where she's unable to stand up or defend herself, which only makes her eventual assertiveness shine. When she finally gets the chance, she lets the person know her feelings. I love Giles and completely understand where he's coming from regarding his engagement to Sienna. You can only wait for someone for so long before moving on and, in many cases, when the person finally recognizes their feelings, love sometimes just isn't enough.
Broken hearts, longing, and manipulation fill this story. The story is also filled with love, compassion, realization, friendship, and support. Sometimes things just don't work out, other times, they work out just like they should, and sometimes you get a mix of both. I've been in Holly's shoes and when I finally realized what my feelings truly were, it was too late. There wasn't any reconciliation or even coming back together as friends. That actually worked out for the best for me. Now I'm married to an amazing man and our relationship is much better than the one I thought I missed out on.
Leave it to me to start the series with the final book...Lol. I never used to be this way. I was very strict about reading books in order, but lately I just start a series as soon as I discover it. I'll go back to the beginning eventually, but I can't wait to meet the characters and explore the locations, and so now, I don't wait.
I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
My Rating:
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 20 publications spanning a number of genres and translated into half 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 horde 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.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: @HannahLynnAuthor
Twitter: @HMLynnauthor
Instagram: @hannahlynnwrites
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/HannahLynnNews
Bookbub profile: @hmlynnauthor
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