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Seasons on the Island #1
Second Chance at Christmas
Josie doesn’t want to spend yet another Christmas as the only single adult at the family dinner. So, instead, she books a week long holiday to her favourite island. Ready to spend it doing what she loves doing most, long walks on the beach with her dog and reading novels in front of a fire.
What she hasn’t counted on is running into her old summer fling, the one girl she could never forget.
Sanne is freshly heartbroken, and instead of having to deal with her parents’ pitying looks over Christmas dinner, she decides to still go on the winter holiday she’d booked, even if it means going on her own. She can entertain herself well enough, and maybe some fresh air will clear her head of all the darkness from the last months.
But when she sees Josie at the cafe, she can’t help how her heart beats faster or how much she wants the other woman to hold her.
What starts as a shared meal at a cafe, followed by the first snow of the season, could turn into much more.
They lost their chance of being together when they spent the summers on the island as teens, but can they take it now that they’re adults?
Can they take the chance amid knee-high snow and Christmas decorations?
What she hasn’t counted on is running into her old summer fling, the one girl she could never forget.
Sanne is freshly heartbroken, and instead of having to deal with her parents’ pitying looks over Christmas dinner, she decides to still go on the winter holiday she’d booked, even if it means going on her own. She can entertain herself well enough, and maybe some fresh air will clear her head of all the darkness from the last months.
But when she sees Josie at the cafe, she can’t help how her heart beats faster or how much she wants the other woman to hold her.
What starts as a shared meal at a cafe, followed by the first snow of the season, could turn into much more.
They lost their chance of being together when they spent the summers on the island as teens, but can they take it now that they’re adults?
Can they take the chance amid knee-high snow and Christmas decorations?
204 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2018
48 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 14, 2020
I had such a good time reading this book! It felt so comforting, and I loved the romance a lot. I will say this book could have done with more extensive editing, but good writing to me is about if you can make your reader feel what the characters are going through and that was definitely the case for me.
December 25, 2020
Christmas season on a cold and wintery Island that she spent her childhood summer seems like a great way to get over heart break and move on with life. Little did Sanne know she would run into her old fun times friend Josie. Both girls are now grown up. Josie is a vet with her own clinic. Sanne feels like she just working at a job that isn't going anywhere. When these two meet up will it be just like old times or is there something more. Come and fall in love with this island.
November 25, 2021
Slow burn
It felt too drawn out. Christmas was a day, minor build-up. Emily Engberts told a good story, but not necessarily a second chance since they were never a couple. But good read, may reread in future for holiday.
It felt too drawn out. Christmas was a day, minor build-up. Emily Engberts told a good story, but not necessarily a second chance since they were never a couple. But good read, may reread in future for holiday.
December 20, 2019
Sanne just wanted to get away from it all and instead ran right into the past.
Sanne did not want to spend Christmas in her apartment where she had been with her ex. She had also forgotten all about the holiday booked, but she decided to go anyway. She needed to get away from all of the reminders of her failed relationship.
On her first day there, Sanne runs into Josie the girl she used to kiss when they were teenagers. Soon they are sharing a table and memories.
Josie visits the island all of the time and is used to spending most of the time by herself. Seeing Sanne after all of these years brings back a lot of memories and feelings.
Can two people coming from such different places, find their way to each other?
Emily Engberts has a way with words. I feel as if I have been to Schiermonnikoog and have crossed the street with Sanne on her walk into town. A Second Chance At Christmas (Easily Distracted Media, B07KWYDYFM, 2018) is a very descriptive piece of writing. You too will feel as if you are on the island with Josie and Sanne.
Engberts gives us multi-pov chapters for Josie and Sanne and we get to see their confusion over each over. Sometimes this is really funny and cute. Josie and Sanne are adorable together. I really rooted for them. You will like this holiday romance as Engberts takes her time and builds it slowly, but with plenty of fire.
Grab your blanket, get some cocoa, and get ready for Josie and Sanne in Schiermonnikoog. ✶✶✶✶
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Sanne did not want to spend Christmas in her apartment where she had been with her ex. She had also forgotten all about the holiday booked, but she decided to go anyway. She needed to get away from all of the reminders of her failed relationship.
On her first day there, Sanne runs into Josie the girl she used to kiss when they were teenagers. Soon they are sharing a table and memories.
Josie visits the island all of the time and is used to spending most of the time by herself. Seeing Sanne after all of these years brings back a lot of memories and feelings.
Can two people coming from such different places, find their way to each other?
Emily Engberts has a way with words. I feel as if I have been to Schiermonnikoog and have crossed the street with Sanne on her walk into town. A Second Chance At Christmas (Easily Distracted Media, B07KWYDYFM, 2018) is a very descriptive piece of writing. You too will feel as if you are on the island with Josie and Sanne.
Engberts gives us multi-pov chapters for Josie and Sanne and we get to see their confusion over each over. Sometimes this is really funny and cute. Josie and Sanne are adorable together. I really rooted for them. You will like this holiday romance as Engberts takes her time and builds it slowly, but with plenty of fire.
Grab your blanket, get some cocoa, and get ready for Josie and Sanne in Schiermonnikoog. ✶✶✶✶
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
December 24, 2019
Josie and Sanne knew each other as teenagers and spent time in the same group. But although Sanne always was open for her preference of women to men, she never came close to Josie, as she seemed to be straight.
Fast forward about 10 years. Josie broke up with her boyfriend, but still goes on the planned vacation. On the first day she sees Sanne, and they re-connect, kindling the flame that had always been there.
A nice story, describing the struggle to accept oneself, as well as learning to accept to being loved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fast forward about 10 years. Josie broke up with her boyfriend, but still goes on the planned vacation. On the first day she sees Sanne, and they re-connect, kindling the flame that had always been there.
A nice story, describing the struggle to accept oneself, as well as learning to accept to being loved.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 8, 2019
A chance meeting on a island finds two people who have a decision to make.
Ten years have passed when they last met. One is feeling the after effects of a recent break up. One is feeling the effects of being without human companion for awhile and has her own pet vet store. It is time to turn the pages! Enjoy!
Ten years have passed when they last met. One is feeling the after effects of a recent break up. One is feeling the effects of being without human companion for awhile and has her own pet vet store. It is time to turn the pages! Enjoy!
December 15, 2020
What a great second chance romance. They explored their beloved island and each other every summer. Now they come together at Christmas time on that same island and it seems like old times. Josie was always in love with Sanne now she just needs the courage to show her how much. I look forward to reading the next book about Josie 's friend Kara.
February 9, 2024
Disclaimer: I got this book for free on Kindle. I participated in stuff your kindle day where I got a bunch of romance books for free, roughly 2,000 books. I normally do not read romance books but I wanted to try the genre. I typically read fantasy, science fiction, biographies, and classics so this is way out of my comfort zone. My plan is to draw a book at random without reading the summary, title, and avoiding looking at the cover. As long as the book is not too graphic for me or leads into something uncomfortable, I will be attempting to finish as many of these books as I can in 2024. I understand that many of these books will likely not be top tier but I am hoping that I can learn something about the romance genre as a whole and figure out if any types of books in this genre are for me.
Review: I am honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. This was the first romance book I have read during this process where I found myself happy to have come across the book. Overall, good character development. I felt for both of the characters as they tried to overcome their previous issues. Romance felt real and that there was a genuine connection. I'm impressed overall with the plot. The reason it is not rated higher is due to the choppiness of the writing at times. The writing can also feel really dull at some times. Without those two negatives, I would have rated this a four. Definitely worth reading and I would consider reading it again.
Review: I am honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. This was the first romance book I have read during this process where I found myself happy to have come across the book. Overall, good character development. I felt for both of the characters as they tried to overcome their previous issues. Romance felt real and that there was a genuine connection. I'm impressed overall with the plot. The reason it is not rated higher is due to the choppiness of the writing at times. The writing can also feel really dull at some times. Without those two negatives, I would have rated this a four. Definitely worth reading and I would consider reading it again.
December 1, 2024
Sanne has just broken up with her girlfriend and is spending Christmas alone on a Dutch island that was her favorite summer getaway as a kid. She's surprised to run into one of her teen crushes, Josie, who's also visiting the island alone. They're drawn to one another and it feels like old times, but those feelings start to grow into something more powerful. Will this just be another holiday fling or will they find being together is what they wanted for Christmas?
This is a sweet slow burn romance set around Christmas. The details of the island in winter are beautiful. Definitely makes me want to visit there and have a cozy holiday. I would have liked more of the book to take place there, but it was only the first half of the story. Sanne and Josie are tentative about their affections and that makes this sweeter. It's fun to reminisce with them about their teen years and see the wonderful women they've grown to be.
This is a sweet slow burn romance set around Christmas. The details of the island in winter are beautiful. Definitely makes me want to visit there and have a cozy holiday. I would have liked more of the book to take place there, but it was only the first half of the story. Sanne and Josie are tentative about their affections and that makes this sweeter. It's fun to reminisce with them about their teen years and see the wonderful women they've grown to be.
April 2, 2025
DNF
What? Are these even real people? No one talks to others so stilted! I'm an autistic MOFO and can still manage to converse. Even their thoughts are weird. And assuming things like 'we're too different, we don't even have the same hobbies!' drives me nuts. Really? Romantic couples only ever like to do the same things? If you live in the real world, you know having differing hobbies is a good thing. You do some things together, and some separate. I've never had a romantic partner, and even I wouldn't think that because I like to read and they knit, we could never work.
What? Are these even real people? No one talks to others so stilted! I'm an autistic MOFO and can still manage to converse. Even their thoughts are weird. And assuming things like 'we're too different, we don't even have the same hobbies!' drives me nuts. Really? Romantic couples only ever like to do the same things? If you live in the real world, you know having differing hobbies is a good thing. You do some things together, and some separate. I've never had a romantic partner, and even I wouldn't think that because I like to read and they knit, we could never work.
January 2, 2024
This was a decent story, but it wasn't my favorite of the year. It was a bit slow burn for my liking, especially when they just kept waffling back and forth. In one minute, they wanted to be on their own and in the next minute they wanted to be together. I get that it was driving the story forward to make it a bit more solid of an HEA for them, but after a while I just wanted them to move forward. It was a nice story overall, though.
January 14, 2019
I quite liked this story just perfect for the holidays. The protagonists, Josie and Sanne, were such sweet, likeable characters and were written with such honesty and hope for a second chance at happiness together. I truly felt their love for one another without it being too descriptive. Great job, Emily!
December 23, 2019
This is the 1st book I've read written by Emily Engberts; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
December 24, 2020
Josie and Sanne fell in love every summer amidst the sand dunes at the beach, but their lives were lived apart once they left the island. Now, years later, all grown up and alone at Christmas, both ladies head back to the beach and their fond memories. When they meet again, those same old sparks fly. Why not see how far that old summer island love can reach into a mainland winter!
December 15, 2025
This was a little underwhelming. The characters were very concerned about letting the other one go... but they ended up living in the same city/town. I was expecting a little more stakes, but instead, it was a very cozy read.
This might be for you if you're looking for a quick cozy Christmas story set not in North America.
This might be for you if you're looking for a quick cozy Christmas story set not in North America.
January 2, 2024
Me encantó la historia y el desarrollo de personajes; una historia muy cálida y linda de amor entre mujeres que muestra cómo son realmente las relaciones entre mujeres, llenas de amor y pasión. Definitivamente leeré las demás obras de esta autora.
December 15, 2024
Comforting Christmas Read
This book is like drinking a great Christmas hot chocolate. It has all the ingredients to make you want to savour every mouthful and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside afterwards.
This book is like drinking a great Christmas hot chocolate. It has all the ingredients to make you want to savour every mouthful and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside afterwards.
December 23, 2018
Nice holiday second-chance romance with a friendly stabyhoun in the mix. A strong secondary theme is that December in the Netherlands can be very very very cold.
December 17, 2020
Cute story. Did not flow as well as it could have. I had to keep reminding myself who was the vet.
January 10, 2024
Was a free book so I read it around Christmas. It was okay, a little boring to get through. But wasn't completely horrible.
January 16, 2024
This wasn't bad, but just wasn't memorable
November 23, 2024
Soooooo sweet
"I felt like such a teenager last night, thinking about Sanne all night. It’s been a long time since someone caught my attention like that. It’s been much too long..."
"I felt like such a teenager last night, thinking about Sanne all night. It’s been a long time since someone caught my attention like that. It’s been much too long..."
December 11, 2024
It was sweet, I liked it.
December 22, 2025
LOVEEE THE VIBES
tip for if youre reading it, put on instrumental christmas music, it will get 1000 times better
tip for if youre reading it, put on instrumental christmas music, it will get 1000 times better
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews