Snowflake Bay

In book two of the Brides of Blueberry Cove series, it is Fiona McCrae's turn at love. Fi just recently moved back to Blueberry Cove from New York City. Even though her interior design company was very successful, it wasn't the type of work Fi was wanting to do. Added to that she missed her brother and sisters. Shortly after Fi is back she sees Ben Campbell at her brother Logan's house. Ben was her brother's best friend and was also her childhood crush but he was too busy crushing on Fi's older sister, Hannah to ever even notice Fi. Ben is back in town because he promised his parents he would run their Christmas Tree farm during this holiday season since Ben's dad has health issues and had to move down south. Ben is enjoying being back in Blueberry Cove but he is also running his successful landscaping business back in Rhode Island. He needs to figure out what he permanently wants to do with the farm. I just adored both of these characters. Fi is one of the funniest characters I have read in a long time. I loved her sense of humor, her straightforwardness and her loyalty to her family. Even though Ben has a very successful career in Rhode Island, when he is back in Blueberry Cove he finds that there are some things missing in his life. I just adored the interactions between him and all of the McCrae's but especially with Fi. It has taken Ben years, but he finally notices that Fi is more than his best friend's annoying little sister. I loved his nickname for her! Too funny! The chemistry these two had was wonderful. They ended up having a relationship that started out as friendship and turned into something more meaningful. I really enjoyed their happy ending.

I’ll admit, I’ve been avidly waiting for this novel since we met Fiona in the 1st Brides of Blueberry Cove novel. I’d built it up so much in my mind that I was a little worried, but Kauffman didn’t disappoint me with this excitingly romantic tale, not even for a second. Kauffman writes with a smooth, easy going style that conveys the feeling of this small coastal town. The narrative brings the town and its people to life while the descriptions create the perfect backdrop. I really enjoyed the multiplicity of things that are going on it this story. The characters balanced their own lives with what is going on in their families, health issues vied with work. At the same time, the budding relationship was so sweet, yet not always easy. I felt a connection with Fiona’s character from the very beginning. She was fun and funny without being over the top. I found the fact that she wasn’t perfect, that her life was in transition, while also being exactly what she wanted reassuring. It made it so much easier to identify with her. Ben was also a great character to lead this tale. In transition, but of a less optional sort he finds himself questioning things he’d never thought of before. At the same time, his helpful, caring personality shines through, without detracting from the strong, outdoorsy quality that is essential to who he is. The supporting cast in this story was also a lot of fun to get to know. Whether you’ve met them in previous Blueberry Cove novels or just meeting them now, Kauffman develops them in such a manner that I really felt as if I knew them. I loved the close knit relationships that Kauffman develops throughout this novel. Family, friends, and those in between all play a major role in everyone’s lives. This was a lovely, emotional, yet always fun and funny novel that allowed me to escape from the everyday into its pages. But Kauffman did leave me with one question at the end, what will Kerry get up to next? Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

The heart wants what it wants is an adage that fits this story perfectly. Fiona left home with a broken heart in need of a fresh start. Sick of living in her sisters shadow and pining for the boy she would never have. Years later she returns and realizes nothing has changed. The reasons she left still exist. Snowflake Bay is a romance that entails more than just a relationship that was never given a chance to flourish. It is a look at the relationship between two sisters. A beautiful story that is full of heart and is a wonderful holiday read.