Seriously the cutest cover! The kind of cover I need to have a physical copy on my shelves because of the happy feelings it conjures up every time I look at it. The evil sister is a bit of a caricature, and I personally wouldn’t have forgiven her, but Maddie is much nicer than me. I really enjoyed the gardening storyline, it’s not a subject you see a great deal in romance books. Maddie and Ed were cute together, and well written. A lovey read about Christmas’s, gardening, love, family, grief and community spirit. Recommend.

I was lucky enough to meet Jenny at a local event and have her sign a copy of this lovely read for me.
Maddie and Sabi’s story is an emotional one and I loved seeing how their hard work and dreams turned out at The Potting Shed. Jenny writes such relatable characters and I especially love the links to my local area of the Blackdown Hills. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the sisters.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Interesting book, I enjoyed it.

Jenny Kane is a new author for me and it was by accident I stumbled across this book on Amazon. It was the cover and title that first caught my eye. Frost Falls at the Potting Shed is a lovely, light and enjoyable read that tells the story of Maddie and what happens when talked about plans were not put in place in time and therefore both Maddie and her family are left to deal with the consequences. As the title suggests the story takes place in winter and the run up to Christmas. But this isn’t strictly a Christmas book so doesn’t necessarily have to be read during December. It was a quick read that provided a few hours of escape from the rigours of everyday life.

Maddie had run the Potting Shed plant nursery with her father Tony, right up until his death. Plans had been made to change the nursery into a garden centre and in Tony’s will Maddie was to get the house and nursery but before these changes could be officially written down Tony had heart trouble and passed away. Maddie is devastated by the loss of her father and finds it challenging to keep going with the nursery but she knows what her fathers long term ambitions had been and hopes she can bring them come to fruition. The nursery isn’t doing that great even though Maddie is fully devoted to it and she has Jake working by her side. The problem now is that the nursery has been left between Maddie and her sister Sabi and so forms the crux of the entire story. Sabi wants to sell the nursery and use the money to buy her dream home but Maddie feels the complete opposite.

When a big company who run many national garden centres want to buy the land Sabi is eager to do a deal but Maddie feels this is the wrong thing to do and so a stalemate ensues between the two sisters. The main point of the story is going back and forth between the two sisters as to what the final outcome should be and to be honest, I was firmly on Maddie’s side the entire time. The issue causes divisions between the pair and some personal and family truths come spilling out the further the book develops. I’ll admit I did find some parts of the book to be repetitive in going over the same ground as to why or why not the land should be sold or else remain the way it was. Yes, there was a bit of mystery and suspicion surrounding the solicitor representing the big garden centre wishing to buy The Potting Shed and that did keep my attention. But at times, I felt the book needed something different to happen and for the pace to quicken up a bit as I felt the same things were being said and I found myself getting a bit irritated. But saying that once I went passed, I’d say, the 60% mark things did pick up and I wanted the best for all the characters and especially a positive outcome for Maddie. Although the way things were going happiness for her seemed very far out of reach.

I loved Maddie as a character because she stood firm to her roots and her beliefs throughout the entire story. Plenty was sent to test her but she knew The Potting Shed was part of her DNA and her heritage and that she couldn’t let it go without a fight and that’s what she did throughout. I loved that about her. She may have felt down and overwhelmed at times but she picked herself back up and kept going. Having Petra (the daughter of a friend of Sabi’s) coming to work there turned out to be a blessing in disguise as she had so many creative and resourceful ideas to try and boost the profile and profits of the nursery. Petra also allowed for a storyline to develop regarding Jake and I loved how this was handled with such sensitivity and tact. She was able to open up a side to him that he had kept concealed but perhaps for all the wrong reasons.

Ed was the solicitor who started to handle Maddie’s fathers affairs and I could tell that there was a connection between himself and Maddie. One perhaps they couldn’t act upon given the situation she found herself in but as a reader you are desperate for the pair to get together but it seemed so far from becoming a reality. I loved how Ed became much more involved in the whole process of trying to save the nursery and he really did go above and beyond the call of duty. Wthout him, I think the entire story would have turned out very differently.

Sabi for me was the most divisive character. Even now having long finished the book I’m not sure I really like her even though she did towards the end show some redeeming features and the reasons for her actions are very clearly explained still there was just something about her that made me more enamoured to Maddie as a character. To me it seemed like Sabi exasperated the situation regarding the sale of the nursery. Ok, she wanted to use the money from the proposed sale to have an even bigger house as that had always been a dream of hers but you could tell her husband Henry thought she was mad. That they were fine the way they were and why did they need something bigger especially as their daughter was away at school?

To me it was a bit like keeping up with the Joneses and that she wanted to be as good as her friend Miriam and maintain a nice lifestyle. She was totally forgetting about Maddie and how much the nursery meant to her. It was her whole life and it held such special memories that Sabi seemed intent on throwing out the window and all for some money. Sabi came across as selfish and steadfast in her ways for most of the book and I couldn’t warm to her at all. Can you tell I was firmly on Maddie’s side throughout? She was stubborn and high handed and I didn’t like the way she went behind Maddie’s back. Yet, deep down there had to have been a reason for her to be so hellbent on everything and for her refusing to be more sympathetic towards Maddie and her own personal situation.

All in all, Frost Falls at the Potting Shed was a good read. It didn’t blow me away but still I was glad I gave it a go. I enjoyed it enough that I know I will read the second in the series Bluebell Season at the Potting Shed when its published in March when the story of Maddie and Sabi will be continued.

Cute little holiday read, I haven’t read any of the other authors books but I would in the future. I enjoy gardening which is one reason I was drawn to this book.

I adored this book - and not just because I love garden centres. There is a real tension in its pages regarding the future if The Potting Shed, as well as the lovely romance.

Charming, cosy, warm - this book has all the ingredients to cook up a wonderfully heartwarming story and I can't wait to lose myself in the next in the series.

Frost Falls at the Potting Shed by Jenny Kane

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Aria and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It has always been Maddie Willand's dream to take over her father's plant nursery. But after his sudden death, she is devastated to discover that she might lose The Potting Shed forever.

Maddie's bossy older sister, Sabi, is joint owner of the nursery, and she's convinced that the best thing for both of them would be to sell up. Determined to keep the business going, Maddie can't afford any distractions, but staying focused might be harder than she thinks when – after a major garden centre chain puts in an offer – her search for legal advice throws her into the path of attractive lawyer Ed...

As frost begins to fall over The Potting Shed, will Maddie find the strength to save her father's legacy and open herself up to new beginnings? 

My Opinion

This is the first book in a new series and what a nice start it was. From the start it was clear that Maddie would do what it takes to save The Potting Shed. Whilst set around December this book wasn't overly festive and can be read at any time of year. This was a delight to read from start to finish and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series already.

Rating 4/5

This is a cover that I haven't seen much of on bookstagram. This was such a bittersweet heartwarming book. Though I could see my sister and myself in Sabi and Maddie's relationship. They could not see eye to eye on how to continue their fathers legacy and business after he passed. Luckily my sister and I do not work together but she did work with my Dad. And although they worked together everyday I was somehow closer to him on a personal level.
There was definitely a yucky feeling coming from the corporate lawyer who was offering to buy the business and property. But through that Maddie got closer to her solicitor who she had a lot in common with and I seriously would love to go on a welly walk or join a Dark skies group. hmm hey google... There's so much light pollution from the nearby cities that it's hard to get pitch black enough to view the stars in all their glory. I would have to drive out to the country.
I will admit though Sabi's ambition to be with the posh wives group started to get to me. She wouldn't budge an inch and she just seemed really selfish forcing her sister into something she didn't want. I am glad when they finally saw eye to eye and realized that inside their grief was a lot of hurt feelings.
Jake and Petra's workplace romance was so sweet! A very unlikely pair per societies standards but not theirs.

Thank you ariafiction and netgalley for the e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

I loved this sweet book and I’m definitely going to look for more by this author. This was such an easy read and I loved the fact it was full of mostly good characters. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

There's not a lot of stories featuring gardener and gardening and this was a lovely surprised. I fell in love with the cover and then fell in love with the well plotted and heartwarming story.
There's some sadness but there's also hope, warm and fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Frost Falls at the Potting Shed is the start of a brand-new series, The Potting Shed, #1.
I really enjoy gardening and even though it's Fall here in the states and the only gardening I'm currently doing is watering house plants I really enjoyed it.
Maddie Willand and her bossy, older sister Sabi are devastated by the sudden and unexpected death of their father. The Potting Shed was their father's whole life, he put everything he had into it and his daughter Maddie still does as well. Looking at the books after his death she's devastated to learn the shop is badly in the red. Maddie and Sabi are co-owners of the shop but having totally different outlooks on life makes for an incompatible relationship. Maddie is desperate to keep the shop running and honor her father's memory and she plain just loves the shop with all the family memories it holds. Sabi doesn't put any stock into sentimental memories and is ready to sell it out from under Maddie. She even goes as far as making devious plans to try to get it sold. Try as she may to hold onto the shop Maddie knows it may all be futile in the end if something doesn't come up and quickly at that.
This is such a feel-good sentimental journey. It's not only charming but there is a sweet Christmassy vibe intertwined within the pages as well. I loved the descriptions in the potting shed, Christmas trees, mistletoe, poinsettia and hot chocolate. Throw in the distraction of a sweet new romance and what more could you need?
A definite must read!

Yet another fabulous book by Jenny. All of her books have been comfortable and easy reading and this one is no exception.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an adorable, heartwarming book. I enjoyed it a lot.

Having enjoyed the Mill Grange series, I was anticipating this new series. The Potting Shed proved to be a warm, welcoming place, with a strong, family vibe. Of course, some members of the family are not in agreement and an offer from an outside concern causes a rift to emerge between the two sisters, Maddie and Sabi. They have different priorities. Maddie is easy to like. She is hardworking and wears her heart on her sleeve. Sabi, on the other hand, is less sympathetic and appears entitled and a little snobbish. As the story develops, you begin to see a different side to Sabi and to understand why she is behaving as she does.

There is plenty of potential for future stories set in the Potting Shed. You are introduced to a range of characters who all come over as individuals. Full of the outdoors, Maddie relishes the outdoors, no matter the weather and the stary walks sound amazing. With a love of nature, the Potting Shed seems to bring the best out in people and you sense a community who you may meet in future books, willing Maddie to succeed. This is a warm and entertaining story, set in Winter, with a nod to the festive season.

In short: Take a risk and follow your dream

Favorite Quotes:

Grade-one snob syndrome.

Maddie glared at her houseplant. ‘Comments like that are not helpful.’

My Review:

This was a fun and engaging women’s fiction read featuring sisters at odds over their struggling family business in a small British village. The characters were well-etched and knowable, while not always likable – like most family members are in real life. Maddie was an endearing, driven, and lonely soul who not only talked to her plants but held intense conversations and arguments with them. The storylines were easy to follow, well-paced, and mild enough to recommend to my elderly mother’s church ladies’ book club.

I also gleaned a new addition to my Brit Words and Phrases list with berk, which is British slang for a stupid person. I have plants of my own to tell this one too.

I was really disappointed with this book. The premise sounded cute, but the story was so boring! I considered DNFing even when I was 70% through, but has already invested enough time- I mostly skimmed the rest. I also didn’t love how “Sabi” (what an annoying nickname for Sabrina) was demanding her sister give up her dream so she could buy a second house. No decent person would think of doing that! I didn’t like that the characters most portrayed as smart, logical and came to the rescue with the sketchy lawyer were both men. That just rubbed me the wrong way a bit. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, this was classified as a romance, which seems completely inaccurate. It should have been classified as women’s fiction if anything. There was not much romance in it, and that part was definitely not the main focus of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me access to this eARC for my honest opinion!

What a treat this was! I love gardening and I really enjoyed the theme mixed in with Christmas.
I loved how your opinion and interpretation of the characters changes throughout the book as the characters grow.
It's a sentimental and heart warming read exploring loss, family relationships and of course a whole load of festive cheer thrown in for good measure. An absolute delight to read!

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t my normal read, but I curled up with a cup of tea and it was such an easy read. It was a good solid story for the holiday season.

What a great story! Really enjoyed reading this and couldn’t put it down.
Two sister, Maddie and Sabi, suddenly lose their dad before he changes his will. Instead of the Potting shed, the nursery centre, being left to Maddie and other stuff left to Sabi the old will states it is left to both of them. Maddie and her dad had big plans for the potting shed but when the firm Big, a large garden centre, try to buy them out, Sabi thinks it’s a good idea whereas Maddie wants to keep her and her fathers dream alive. Sabi gives Maddie a month up to Christmas to prove that the business is worth keeping.
A real cosy Christmas book that kept me guessing until virtually the end as to which way this story would go. Looking forward to reading the next 1 in the series

A sweet charming christmas read. The differents storylines intertwine nicely and the characters are very likeable. With the exaption of Sabi. She lacked growth and in the end didn't really learn anything of the whole messy situation.

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.