This is the story of Lucy who buys the house she has dreamed if owning since she was a child. She faces tragedy and thinks she might have to give in to her domineering but well meaning mother. But Lucy is made if stronger stuff and us determined to make the life she wants for herself and her family.
If you love Jill Mansell and Erica James you'll love this book.

2.5 stars

Maybe it's just me but for some reason I got the impression that this would be a cute, fun, holiday read for the winter season based on the cover. Well, shame on me for judging a book by the cover because it really was neither cute or fun. It was more of a serious novel with a slower pace covering a two to three year span. 

One thing it did do well was cover the setting of a cozy small town. Seriously. The setting may have been the best part of the whole novel and it made me just want to pack up and go to the closest small town where I could become a recluse in a Bed and Breakfast.

The main thing that I struggled with in this novel was the amount of 'sad' things that were occurring in what felt like a short period of time. I understand in reality many sad things occur in life but man, in this story, it was one blow after another--especially for the main character Lucy. I like when stories can get emotional but there were too many negative events that happened in this novel which took away from the overall story. 

When I picked up this novel, I thought the story would be related to the winter/holiday season but again, that was my mistake coming to that conclusion based on the cover. Yes, the story included Christmas but it also included Halloween and Easter and wasn't specifically geared towards the winter season. 

It was an okay read but there wasn't anything that made the story beyond average or memorable (aside from the abundance of negative events occurring to the main character Lucy in succession).

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

My first Ellen Berry novel and I'm definitely going to find time to read the other 2 books in the series.  I loved Lucy's journey, cried at her loss and laughed with Kenny; her mum reminded me of my gran!  Thank you

The female protagonist Lucy, spent her childhood summers in a quaint Yorkshire village with her Aunt and Uncle.  She was drawn to a little cottage on Rosemary Lane and vowed to make the cottage hers one day.

Fast forward and Lucy is married to Ivan with two children.   Ivan is disillusioned by his job and when Lucy is made redundant, she discovers that her dream cottage is available to buy.  With a plan to turn it into a B and B, the family move into the dilapidated building. Once renovated, Lucy begins to make a success of the new venture, but Ivan is offered a job be can't refuse and spends his weekdays in Manchester.  Tragedy strikes and Lucy is left to bring up the children alone, whilst building her B and B business. 

The story that unfolds shows how Lucy navigates this time in her life, her support network and how she ultimately finds strength to stay true to herself.  Whilst it is clear her childhood crush, Hally, is going to be important to her story, it is very sensitively written and a gradual development, two people finding support in each other. 

Snowdrops is a moving, heartwarming sort with a few twists thrown in.  I enjoyed the 'real' element of the writing, at this time of year I read a lot of Christmassy themed books, but this was not sugar coated, there is a grit to it, a realistic determination to overcome life obstacles and I was really moved by the characters, who were all beautifully written.

Ellen  Berry has written a poignant story which tells how Lucy persuaded her husband Ivan to help her return to Burley Bridge to buy a cottage where she has happy childhood memories. She has lost her job and when she moves to this magical place she creates an award winning B & B before tragedy strikes and how she copes with the children and her home is her focus now. Into the mix comes a friend from the past with his own problems and difficulties. A good read, but don’t forget the tissues!

Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane was not at all the sweet Christmas book I thought it was based on the cover. I will begin with the positive, I loved the description of Rosemary Cottage and all of the mentions of the town and festivals. So charming and I want a Rosemary Cottage of my own!

The issue I had was with the story itself. I understand, writers are told that there must be a tragedy or stumbling block to be overcome. Usually the books begins at this place. When I pick up a holiday book, I want cozy romance and a sweet story, but this book led you quite a ways in and then kills off a main character. Once you've gotten attached, you really aren't cheering on the new guy and hoping fixes everything. Ugh.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest opinion.

Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry is a women's fiction book that I really enjoyed. Lucy  fell in love with Rosemary Cottage when she was a child.  After losing her job in the City, she discovers, the cottage is for sale.  Lucy, her husband, and two children move to Rosemary's cottage to fix it up into a B&B.  Lucy husband gets restless, so he returns to his city to his job, commuting back on weekends.  A year later, after tragedy strikes, Lucy has a lot of decisions to make.  What a lovely book, I will be reading more books by this author.  I highly recommend this book.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was an effort to keep going with it.

I really enjoy the occasional foray into Women’s Fiction and, as I’m not a regularly reader, I don’t have any favourite authors or set expectations, I just pick a book on the cover, title and description and this book looked and sounded good.

However, I found it really slow to start and to keep going.  There were too many frustrating character and there seemed to be no real direction for the story (is it woman conquering all and winning?  Is it a love story?  Is it about him? Her? The community?) I still didn’t really know what it was about by the end!

This book has had a lot of good reviews and I have to just conclude that it just wasn’t for me.

This was a really good heart-warming read. I can’t quite pinpoint why this was set aside from your typical holiday reads but it really was. It was something about the underlying mystery surrounding the situation I think. It was warm, there was heart-break at times, but it was hopeful all the same. I loved reading about the close-knit village community. It worked well as a standalone book but is also part of a series. It’s also not hugely Christmas-Focused which means that if you’re not into Christmas books then you’ll enjoy this. It’s more ‘Winter’ themed than anything else. Beautiful and a story of strength throughout an unpredictable life course.

There’s a lot of stories about B&Bs, lost, and finding your way. Still this was a nice story to read during the holidays.

Snowdrops on Rosemary lane by Ellen Berry

 The main character is Lucy used to come to the village of Burley Bridge Yorkshire In the summer  to stay with her aunt and uncle and she decided then one day she would own the cottage in Rosemary Lane which she eventually does . She moves there with her husband and small children and she decided to open a b & b . Her husband dies suddenly in an accident and the book continues about how she survives in a village where people from her childhood suddenly appear. 

It is beautifully written boik about her life in the village and the people .

However it is a little slow to get to the end. It just sort of ended but only with a partial conclusion- it could have added a little more to conclude. Also Lucy’s story is very slow to reach any major conclusion. As previously stated the end is very halfhearted compared to the rest of the book.

This was such a lovely book. The characters are beautifully drawn and the story is an ode to friendship and the community spirit of small villages. Very emotional in places, I found I was so invested in the story that I just kept saying "one more chapter..." until I was done. I'm aware that this book forms part of a series - I haven't read any of the others and didn't feel like I was hindered by this but will definitely be reading the others so that I can spend more time in the lovely village of Burley Bridge.

When I first read the synopsis of ‘Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane,’ I originally thought it was going to be a romance story, however, I was quickly surprised to find out it was about a strong independent woman struggling to survive.
 	Lucy Riddock tired of corporate bureaucracy and pregnant with her third child at age 40. Lucy convinces her husband, Ivan, to leave Manchester for the slow pace of Burley Bridge. Together, the two purchase Lucy's fantasy home, Rosemary Lane. Rosemary Lane is a beautiful cottage that Lucy and her husband turn into the hottest bed and breakfast in England. 
	As days turn into months, Ivan unable to adjust to the country yearns for his old job in the city. Torn between two loves, Ivan moves back to Manchester with a promise to visit on the weekends. With the weight of running a B&B and raising two young children by herself, Lucy bears the responsibilities. Until one night, two officers come to Rosemary Lane and inform Lucy of a horrific tragedy that threatens to destroy everything Lucy holds dear.

What a lovely cosy book for this time of year!! Although with a little sadness in it, it was a super read, and loved every word of it!! From start to finish, I was intrigued as to what happens next!! It proved to me, that anyone can live their dream if they try hard enough, even with real tragedy, it's possible!!!!!

Lucy is getting ready for her first family Christmas in her and her husbands new county B&B. This is the home she has dreamt of her whole life. 

Unfortunately fate jumps in and Lucy’s life is thrown into chaos. With the help of James, a friend from her childhood, Lucy might just be able to come to terms with he situation. 

A bitter sweet story about love, loss and life after heartbreak.

As a child Lucy spent many happy summers in a small village in West Yorkshire called Burley Bridge. She made friends with local children and looked forward to her annual visits. When she was 13 her annual visits stopped.  As the years passed, Lucy just had vague memories of the village and her old friends.  She did however always remember Rosemary cottage, a tumble down house she fell in love with as a child.
Thirty years have passed, living i.n Manchester, Lucy is happily married, has two young children and a job she loves.  Unfortunately a new boss comes along and gives Lucy  a push out the door.  At loose ends, Lucy starts dreaming about life in a village running a B&B.  Looking at properties on line, she discovers Rosemary cottage is for sale.  She convinces her husband, Ivan to join in her dream.  They buy the cottage, fix it up and start having guests.  Lucy is thrilled with their lifestyle change, but Ivan misses Manchester and a career, rather than being a host to paying guests. He is headhunted back to  Manchester traveling home on weekends.  The weekend before Christmas Ivan is tragically killed on his drive home.
The book sensitively portrays the grief and despair Lucy endures while trying to keep herself and her family together.  Lucy’s mother, though meaning well just adds to her anxiety.    Her mother wants her to sell up in the village, and move back to the city where her mother can look after her and the children.  Is Lucy wrong to want to stay where she is?
Once Lucy starts emerging from her fog of grief, she reconnects with one of her childhood friends.  Very slowly and carefully a friendship develops.
This is my first Ellen Berry book, and I would like to read more.
Thank you to netgalley and Avon books for an ARC.

Snow Drops on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry was an engaging read.  It started out being a Christmas story but then lapsed into a story that evolved over a  period of several years after that initial Christmas season.  The characters were well developed and the story had me intrigued.

As I read throug this story I laughed, cried and went through the rollercoaster of emotions which always tells me I’ve read a good story. While this book wasn’t the typical Christmas romance that I normally read, I enjoyed it alot!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Avon, Harper Collins Publishing, and Ms. Berry, as well as Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of honest review.
When she was a child Lucy used to visit her aunt and uncle at Burley Bridge each summer. There she had made friends with Hally and Linton children with whom she would ravage the garden of Kitty Cartwright who lived at Rosemary Cottage.
Now in her early 40s, Lucy is happily married to Ivan and has two young children Marnie and Sam. She has left her job because of her and the new head of her company's clashing views.
Lucy has always dreamt of running her own B&B and now with the handsome pay she has gotten she decides to go ahead with it and to her delight, Rosemary Cottage from her childhood is up for sale.
The first half deals with the family moving there, the change in their lifestyle, joining the rhythm of the village, Ivan who first was ready to do freelancing and now moving back to Manchester after receiving an even better job offer and they manage it very well but at their first Christmas there Ivan dies in a car accident. What is worse is that Lucy is worried that he might be having an affair.
The plot is written in a clear, lucid manner. Descriptions aren't overdone. The pace of the book is also good. It doesn't delve into their day-to-day life but gives us an overview of it at the same time it keeps us included in the story.
Lucy's grief and the children dealing with the loss of their father is written in a truthful form, no fobbing done. I admired Lucy that while she was drowning in her grief, she didn't ignore her children like many do and did give them a semblance of normal life. And she soon realised on her own that while she will be mourning Ivan she has to move on with her life.
James Halsall is Lucy's childhood friend Hally living in a Liverpool and works as a Carpenter. He is dealing with his own fair share of problems. He is divorced (after his wife cheated and left him for her acupuncturist), has a son, Spike, from that marriage, his brother Rod who is an overachiever from his father's PoV but is a literal failure who is always running from problems, and his father Kenny who might have Dementia but doesn't want to do the tests.
James returns to Burley Bridge, the same night Ivan passes away, after receiving a call from his neighbour whose guests were harassed by Kenny to find out his father living in a shabby condition and Rod took off to Switzerland for unseeable future. Now it has come to him to look after Kenny, handle his job and meet Spike on a regular basis.
Lucy and James' relationship is another beautiful aspect of this book. While they do meet before Lucy has gathered herself, their real meetings don't happen until she is venturing out with at least a bit of confidence. Both of them share their problems to each other, and while they are living now a respectable life them needing an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on regardless of how much time has passed are bare moments.
The villagers are amazing too. Normally when characters move from cities to villages they are constantly regarded with suspicion and are kept at arm's length but the residents of Burley Bridge come to help of each other, include these newcomers in their lives, are nosy but nice.
Truly a wonderful book to read especially during Christmas.

This was the first book of Ellen Berry that I read and I really enjoyed it . But it is the third book in her series about Rosemary Lane and even though it was part of a series which I had not read I was able to connect with the characters and the story easily. It has wholesome believable characters, especially the determined Lucy. The story is interesting especially with its emphasis on family and second chances. . This book shows the importance of family and second chances . Perfect holiday read for those that love this author other books ( Bakery & Bookstore) or second chance British romances.

What a nice holiday book!!  It is a lovely story of a family overcoming grief, healing together, and rebuilding their lives - especially around Christmastime!  Lucy and her children are struck with an unforeseeable tragedy over the holidays when her husband dies on his way home in a car wreck.  Mystery surrounds the accident and Lucy is left mourning his death, caring for her two children, running a B&B, and establishing her new floral business.... all alone.  The book follows Lucy's and her family's struggles as they find a new normal and rebuild their lives together.  

This book has a lot of serious subject matter including death, dementia, and infidelity.  I do not believe the cover is appropriate, it seems more like the cover to a quicker and lighter read than this was.  I'd suggest a photo of a cozy cottage in a darker landscape of winter rather than the cartoonish, Christmasy current cover.

I definitely would recommend this book.  It is one of the best holiday books I have read recently, I really enjoyed it!