Happy New Year everyone! First review of the year, so just one last Christmassy read before I move on to other things? Because I’m really delighted to share my review today of the latest book from the wonderful Kim Nash, Snowflakes Over Muddleford Cove – and yes, it is a Christmas romance, but this is one I think many readers would enjoy just as much when the decorations have come down and the festive season is over. Independently published, it’s now available for kindle (£1.99 to purchase, or free via Kindle Unlimited) and also now in paperback. The e-copy I read was my own, purchased via Amazon.
Without question, Kim is one of the loveliest ladies I know (I was gutted not to make it to Chase LitFest last year and be able to share a hug!) – but I’m also a real fan of her writing. I shared reviews of both Amazing Grace (one of my 2019 Books of the Year – and just 99p for the e-book…) and Escape to Giddywell Grange (also just 99p) – you can read both reviews again together here. Her next book, Sunshine and Second Chances (£1.99, but free via KU), was just the perfect summer read, and Kim featured yet again in my 2020 Books of the Year list (you’ll find my review of that one here).
And Moonlight Over Muddleford Cove (just 99p, and free via KU)? Well, it was everything I look for in a light and summery read, but with plenty of emotional depth to satisfy too – just a gorgeous read, totally uplifting and enjoyable from first page to last (you can read my full review again here). And this is the sequel I’ve been looking forward to – I wasn’t going to miss this one for the world…
Love is in the air and the festive season is just around the corner at the seaside town of Muddleford.
Nellie is happily settled in her gorgeous clifftop home. Her favourite evenings are those spent at her beach hut, cozying up under a blanket with her fiancé. There’s nothing quite like spending time together under the twinkly stars – complete with a delicious hot chocolate and her dog Norman sprawled on their feet.
But she can’t help feeling that there’s still something missing.
When Nellie meets Esme, a mysterious visitor to Muddleford, the pair of them come up with a plan to raise money for the local animal shelter, leading to the grand finale – a Christmas Ball.
But Esme’s keeping a secret about Nellie’s past that promises to throw her whole world upside down.
Will this be Nellie’s perfect Christmas for the first time in forever? Or will it turn into her worst nightmare – one that she’ll never forget?
Sometimes you have to go back to go forward.
I so hoped everything had gone well for Nellie after her move to Muddleford – she certainly has her hands full now, with all those fundraising projects, the WI, and helping out at the animal shelter. And, of course, she’s still blissfully happy with the lovely Jack – the only cloud on their horizon is that she’d desperately like them to start their own family, and it just isn’t happening. Best friend Shiv visits regularly though, making everything better – and it might be difficult to keep her away now she’s encountered the new vicar, silver fox Kenny (who’s got the ladies of the WI competing for his attention too). And Nellie has a new friend in Esme, visiting the area and volunteering at the shelter too – she helps her find somewhere to stay, and to earn some income, as they join forces to plan the Christmas Ball. But Esme’s friendship brings a few surprises – and a few particularly difficult memories from Nellie’s less than happy past.
If this is your first visit to Muddleford, you’ll have no problems at all catching up – there’s just enough background to make that easy, but really nicely done so that it doesn’t stall the new story. And there’s something so very comfortable about the author’s writing – and Nellie’s voice, as she tells the story in the first person – that makes you relax into the story, happy to see where it takes you, enjoying the various relationships, coming across those surprises as things take a turn in an expected direction, really feeling deeply for everyone involved. It’s a relatively light read, but the emotional touch is just perfect – plenty of laughter (we should all have a Shiv in our lives), but a few moments when I really couldn’t help having a tear in my eye.
It’s a nicely multi-generational story too – something I always appreciate – and every character, no matter how incidental, is beautifully drawn. The family content is really excellent, with particular warmth and authenticity, as are the friendships – and, as well as the the lovely Norman, there’s plenty for the dog lovers too. And the location really is just perfect – as I’ve said before, drawn with love – with opportunities to enjoy the sunshine on your back at the gorgeous beach hut before everything turns a little more Christmassy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one, filled with everything I enjoy in a book – and I’m more impressed than ever by Kim Nash’s writing. A gorgeous read, and one I’d recommend without reservation.
About the author
Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, feel-good, romantic fiction.
She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is Digital Publicity Director for Bookouture, and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk.
Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association’s Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can’t quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.
When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She’s also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!). Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.
Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019.
Escape to Giddywell Grange was her second, published by Hera Books in September 2019: her third was Sunshine and Second Chances, published in June 2020, and shortlisted for the 2020 Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award.
Her fourth book, Moonlight Over Muddleford Cove, was published in March 2021.
Connect with Kim on Social Media here:
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