🎅🏻 Festive Read ~ A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Naxos Audio Books
2006 
Running time: 3hours 13minutes 
Read by Anton Lesser

A Christmas Carol in prose. Being a ghost story of Christmas.

Well, no Christma is complete, for me, without my favourite Christmas classic and it's become something of tradition to re-read this atmospheric morality tale at this special time of year. This year however, I have decided to listen to an audio version, read by Anton Lesser and first recorded in 2006. This accomplished actor brings something rather special which added to my enjoyment of this classic Christmas ghost story.

A Christmas Carol was first published, in London, on the 19th December 1843, and the story was completely sold out by Christmas Eve. Since then it has never been out of print and has been translated into many languages.

Divided into five staves, or chapters, Dickens tells the story of that old curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly money lender with not an ounce of Christmas spirit.  Scrooge exploits the good nature of his poor, but honest clerk, Bill Cratchit, only grudgingly allowing him a day off on Christmas Day on the understanding that he will "Be here all the earlier the day after "..

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead business partner Jacob Marley and is warned to mend his miserly ways, or else risk, like Marley, an eternity of doom, "I am here tonight to warn you that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer."

Taken in hand by the Ghost of Christmas past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge is given a glimpse into his lost and lonely life, unloved by friends and shunned by strangers, and is then forced to reconsider his life, and the role he plays in the lives of others.

By no stretch of the imagination is A Christmas Carol a jolly, festive tale. However, there is no doubt that the story has stood the test of time and just as Charles Dickens chose to remind us of the need for charity and compassion,  so the premise of the story is just as valid today as it was in December 1843.

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, " God Bless Us, Every One! "

About the Author

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.

Biography source : Goodreads

You can find out more about Charles Dickens by clicking here

You can  listen to a volunteer recording A Christmas Carol on Librivox by clicking here

You can read A Christmas Carol for free by going to Project Gutenberg by clicking here

🎅🏻 Festive Book Review ~ Let The Bells Rings Out by Milly Johnson

Simon and Schuster
23 October 2025

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

 

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas. 

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever.

🎅🏻My Review..

Seven strangers are all on their way somewhere for Christmas when they are stranded in thick snow at a remote railway station. None of them have much in common but with the weather worsening and with no sign of any of them reaching their destination they are surprised to find an unoccupied and rather luxurious steam train just silently waiting for passengers to climb aboard.

With no alternative but to make the most of what’s on offer, the seven strangers begin to experience something really special, not just from the hospitality on offer on board The Yorkshire Belle but also from discovering more about each other. Hopes and wishes, life experiences, troubled times and lost opportunities are all shared and as the warmth of friendship blossoms so individual problems seem to be smoothed away.

As comforting as a glass of creamy hot chocolate, Let the Bells Ring Out is the most perfectly magical festive story which will not only warm the cockles of your heart but will also restore your faith in human kind. I absolutely loved it.

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and with millions of copies of her books sold across the world, Milly’s star continues to rise. Milly writes from the heart about what she knows and highlights the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate love, friendship, and the possibility of second chances. She is an exceptional writer who puts her heart and soul into every book she  writes and every character she creates.

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🎄Festive Book Review ~ Maybe Next Christmas by Emma Heatherington

Penguin
October 2024

Thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

This Christmas they're strangers. Maybe next Christmas they'll fall in love...

It’s Christmas Eve and, as the snow begins to fall, Bea is at Heathrow airport, ready to return home to Ireland for the festivities.

There, she meets Ollie for the first time. They talk about everything and anything, and their connection is undeniable. But when their flight lands, they leave just as they met: strangers.

A chance encounter in London a few months later, however, sparks a chain of events neither of them could have ever imagined.

Last Christmas was just the beginning. This year will be full of surprises.

And next Christmas may be the one that changes everything...

🎄 My Review..

Bea and Ollie meet when their flight home to Ireland for Christmas is delayed. These two strangers, although having met in unusual circumstances, find a shared connection but unfortunately it may well be the right place, however, it’s certainly not the right time for a relationship to go any further. What then follows is a delightful story which follows both Bea and Ollie as they go about their lives and yet neither forgets the other and the endless possibilities of something which could have been beautiful. 

I’ve been quite enchanted by Bea and Ollie and invested so much emotionally in each of their characters and followed their individual stories with real enthusiasm. Such is the power of the story that it kept me turning the pages long after I should have stopped reading to do something else. There is an element of will, they won’t they about the story but ultimately I hoped that this two lovely characters would get the happy ending they each deserved. The author writes beautifully and creates time and place really well, I could imagine the hustle and bustle of Bea’s London life juxtaposed against the peace and tranquillity of Ollie’s rural Ireland. 

An absolute delight to read from start to finish Maybe Next Christmas concludes my festive reading for 2024 and what a lovely way to finish.

About The Author 

Emma Heatherington is the Irish Times and international best-selling author of fifteen novels, including UK Number One Ebook THIS CHRISTMAS, as well as Amazon Top 10 and USA Kindle hits THE LEGACY OF LUCY HARTE, ONE MORE DAY, THE PROMISE and SECRETS IN THE SNOW.

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🎄Festive Book Review ~ Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin

Boldwood Books
 September 2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong?

When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one option: to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember.

🎄My Review..

After her disastrous marriage ended, romance writer, Anais and her cousin Manon, start to renovate a run down Paris hotel which Anais received as part of her divorce settlement. Noah, the American bar owner, who lives next door to the hotel seems resistant to the changes going on however, once the hotel starts to reveal its secrets both Noah and Anais get inextricably drawn into the literary secrets of  this mysterious hotel.

This is a lovely story with likeable characters who just make you smile, especially Manon, who is a feisty empowered woman who gets things done. The burgeoning relationship between Anais and Noah adds a lovely will they, won't they element which is fascinating to observe. As the story moves on I couldn't help but be drawn into the mystery which surrounds the hotel, but not only that, it's also a way of exploring some of the literary connections within the city of Paris, which the author describes so well. I have really enjoyed all the excitement of seeing this quirky, boutique hotel come back to life and loved unravelling all the literary references which help to make the story all the more memorable. 

Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel is a little bit of festive magic and is the perfect pick-me-up for the festive season.

 

About the Author

Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them–just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with.People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once-in-a-life time love. Her new series for Boldwood will be set in Paris.

#ChristmasAtTheLittleParisHotel 

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🎄 Festive Review ~ A Book for Christmas by Selma Lagerlöf

 

Penguin Press

7 November 2024

Thanks to the publishers for the opportunity to read this book

An enchanting selection of Christmas tales by the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish national treasure – now available in English for the first time

‘But what shall I do on Christmas night if nobody has given me a book?’

A little girl receives a gift to treasure; the creatures of the forest gather to celebrate the New Year; an evil noblewoman schemes against her beautiful niece; a cantankerous gravedigger dines with an unexpected companion on Christmas Eve…

In this enchanting selection of winter stories, now available in English for the first time, the beloved writer Selma Lagerlöf weaves together magic and miracles, Swedish folklore and timeless fables, darkness and light, heartfelt joy and festive wonder.

Translated by Sarah Death, Peter Graves and Linda Schenck

🎄My Review..

This charming anthology of nine Swedish stories brings all the magic of a long ago Christmas. Perfectly capturing the early twentieth century each self contained short story is a delight to read. Some recreate so beautifully like, in A Book for Christmas, the joyful anticipation of receiving a book to read on Christmas Eve, whilst Redbreast shares a poignant Christian message of how the Robin finally got his redbreast. Not all the stories are particularly festive but they all gel together so beautifully that it didn’t detract from the overall effect.

At just ninety-six pages long, this is a little book with a big heart and I can think of nothing better than to settle down on a wintery afternoon to read this lovely book of short stories. Each of the stories have a message which I think is in keeping with the fact that the author was once a teacher as  I can well imagine her reading these little stories to a class enraptured by the magic of her storytelling.

Complete with magic, folklore and fables this is a special book to treasure.

About the Author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a teacher in a girls’ secondary school before she became a full time writer. She is known around the world for her classic children’s book The Wonderful Adventure of Wolf Holgersson and she was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in 1909.

🎄 Festive Review ~ A Lively Midwinter Murder by Katy Watson

 

Constable

November 2024

Three Dahlias Mystery #4

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

First comes love... and then comes murder.

A high society Christmas Eve wedding at a secluded Scottish castle sounds like the perfect winter getaway for the three Dahlias - until a dead body wearing a wedding dress and a stolen diamond necklace turns up in the snow outside the family chapel, and the bride and groom are suddenly the prime suspects in a murder case...

🎄 My Review…

I have to own up and say that haven’t read the previous three books in this Three Dahlia’s cosy crime series so it took me a little while to get to know who was who and where they all connected, however, once I got the dynamics of the characters settled in my head, I began to gel more with the story and who doesn’t love a good fictional murder at Christmas. 

Rosalind King, Caro Hooper and Posy Starling are the trio of amateur sleuths who make up the Three Dahlias and who are attending the wedding of their friend Libby who is marrying into the family who own the magnificent Dunwick Castle in Scotland. With this high society wedding taking place at the castle and with guests arriving to enjoy the celebrations the last thing anyone needs is a dead body but never daunted by a crime scene the three Dahlias soon get cracking on trying to solve the murder/ mystery.

Overall, I thought this was an entertaining read with enough twists, turns and red herrings in the plot to keep me guessing and with interesting characters who each add a sense of mystery to the proceedings. The setting is wonderfully festive, I mean who can resist a Scottish castle at Christmas, and with more than a nod towards the golden age of crime writing, the author brings the whole thing together in a satisfying way.

A Lively Midwinter Murder is a cosy Christmas read which, I’m sure, fans of this series will love as much as the previous three books.

About the Author

Katy Watson grew up in North Wales, as part of a family of folk singers, storytellers and murder mystery addicts. An avid reader and notebook collector, her dream was to combine the two hobbies by becoming an author and, after spending her teenage years reading paperback Christies on rainy Welsh caravan holidays, it seemed inevitable that one day she'd try writing her own crime novel. It took her eight years of writing professionally - and over forty-five non-murderous books for children, teens and adults - to write her first murder mystery, The Three Dahlias, and now she's started she never wants to stop! A Lively Midwinter Murder is also publishing this Christmas in hardback.

Social Media

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🎄 Festive Book Review ~ The Village Christmas Party by Sue Roberts

Bookouture
October 2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

The smell of mulled wine fills the air as the villagers listen to carollers singing. Everyone in town is ready for the big day. But Lauren only has hours to get the community Christmas party back on track…

Thirty-four-year-old Lauren has a list for everything, especially Christmas. With her presents bought months in advance, the last thing on her checklist is the charity party she runs every year. It has to be perfect – she has seen how much the event means to the older villagers who would be alone for the holidays otherwise.

Everything is going smoothly as the local church bells ring. Until handsome Kian walks in, claiming he has the little village hall booked for his young daughter’s birthday party. Lauren nearly falls off the ladder she is using to hang fairy lights. There’s no way this is happening. Not when she’d triple-checked every detail…

As Lauren frantically tries to find another option, Kian’s insistence that she should just “relax” isn’t helping her stay merry and bright. There’s only one way to make this a festive party to remember. She has to try and work with Kian.

They clash over every detail, but as their helpers arrive, Kian’s kind and welcoming nature soothes Lauren’s shaken nerves. And his gorgeous blue eyes make her wish she’d put the mistletoe out. Until Kian mysteriously disappears.

And Lauren is left alone to keep the excitable children from running into the flaming Christmas pudding the older guests love every year. Will Kian’s chilled approach cool the celebrations? Or can Lauren and Kian put aside their differences and save the day once more?

🎄My Review..

Lauren is the type of person who you want on your side, she always gets things organised and every year she arranges the annual Christmas charity party for the older people in the village where she lives. Lauren dislikes unpredictably, she thrives on getting things done well in advance however, this year she discovers, to her dismay, that someone else has also booked the village hall for a birthday party. With her well ordered plans in disarray, Lauren must learn to compromise but that’s not going to be easy especially when she realises just who has booked the village hall.

This is great, feel-good festive read, with some lovely characters, I especially enjoyed getting to know Kian and his delightful daughter, Bella, who help to bring a heartwarming feel to the story. There’s also a strong sense of community and although there are a few ups and downs which test Lauren’s natural inclination to organise everything to the nth degree, I enjoyed watching how she copes with change and in doing so allows a little happiness into her well ordered life.

The Village Christmas Party is a light and easy read, filled with fun, friendship and a smattering of romance, it’s a great read for a quiet afternoon in the run up to Christmas. 

About the Author

Sue was born in Liverpool and moved to Lancashire as a teenager where she has lived ever since. When not busy writing, Sue spends her time with her ever growing family. She enjoys walking, cinema and travelling.

X @ SueRobertsautho #TheVillageChristmasParty

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Festive Review ~ Christmas Music: Ten Poems of Comfort and Joy from Candlestick Press

 

Candlestick Press
 September 2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet

Whether it’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ or ‘Away in a Manger’ we all have a song, carol or tune that heralds the arrival of the festive season. Music seems to offer a miraculous short-cut to memories of happy times.

The selection takes us on a magical journey from “frosty voices of December stars” to a band of carol-singers “with weary limb” longing to find someone who will open the door and listen. We find voices lifted at the darkest time of the year, offering their own particular light:

“After long silence, there is music again,

thin lip of moon and again bright stars,

the weeds, safe now in their coffins of ice,

in singing weather.”

from ‘In Singing Weather’ by Maggie Anderson

We hope these poems will fill your Christmas with just the right amount of comfort and joy.

Poems by Maggie Anderson, Hayden Carruth, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Frances Ridley Havergal, Oliver Herford, Lorraine Mariner, Adrian Mitchell, Edwin Morgan, Christina Rossetti and Marjorie Wilson.

Cover illustration by Niki Bowers.

Donation to Our Dementia Choir.

 🎄My Review

Christmas music is so evocative, whether it be the cheery sound of 1970s pop classics being blasted out in shops or the quiet majesty of choral classics there is something really special about hearing those first few notes which herald the start of the Christmas season. When my children were small it was hearing them sing Away in  Manger in their school nativity concerts which brought a lump to my throat, now it's hearing the first ethereal sound of Kings College Choir sing Once in Royal David's City in their Christmas Eve broadcast which makes me appreciate the calming effect of Christmas music.

These ten lovely poems remind us to take time out to appreciate the joy music brings us.

From Fairytale of New York - The Pogues featuring Kirsty Macoll by Lorraine Mariner

"The only Christmas song I can listen to

Any day of the year, and when I do

I think about my father and the tin whistle

he bought for me one half-birthday

from the music shop near his office.."

From Sunshine and Shadow by Paul Laurence Dunbar

"The heigho for the flying snow!

Over the whitened roads we go

With pulses that tingle

And sleigh-bells-a-jingle

For a winter's white birds here's a cheery, heighho!"

 And my favourite Victorian poet Christina Rossetti gives us this beautiful verse:

Christmas Eve

"Christmas hath a darkness

Brighter than a blazing noon,

Christmas hath a chillness

Warmer than the heat of June

Christmas hath a beauty

Lovelier than the world can show:

For Christmas bringeth Jesus

Brought for us so low"

This magical anthology  of Christmas Music: Ten Poems of Comfort and Joy is something quite special and is a lovely 'instead of a card' keepsake which reminds us that Christmas music in all its forms brings us joy of the season. 

About the Publisher

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Twitter/X @poetrycandle

Website

🎄 Festive Book Review ~ A Christmas Wish on Arran by Ellie Henderson

 

Joffe Books
22 October 2024

Scottish Romance #4

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book 

When Beth Ferguson’s dream of a career in journalism in London ends in tatters, she’s offered a new start as the local reporter on the Isle of Arran.

The only problem? Returning to the place she first met Callum. Her first love. And the man who broke her heart.

It’s been 25 years since ‘that day’. Surely he’s no longer there.

But Callum is still in Arran. Still gorgeous. Still making Beth’s heart flutter.

Despite the time apart, the more they try to ignore their chemistry, the more it reignites the flame between them.

As the close-knit island prepares for Christmas, Beth reconnects with Arran’s magic. But it’s Callum who pulls at her heartstrings. And when tragedy strikes, it’s Callum who shows Beth that time and distance can’t change what the heart really wants.

🎄 My Review..

I hadn’t realised when I picked up this book that it was part of a series of stories set on the Scottish Isle of Arran but whilst I suspect that there are reappearing characters in each of the books, not knowing much about their back story didn’t detract from the delight of spending time on Arran with Beth and Callum.

Beth is newly returned to Scotland after spending much of her adult life in London. Her arrival on Arran as the new reporter on the local newspaper allows her to take stock of her life, leaving her troubles behind and starting afresh in a place which is familiar as she spent some of her teenage years on the island, working and falling in love. When Beth accidentally bumps into Callum, now a grown up version of the boy she loved twenty-five years ago. However, Beth is torn between guarding her secrets or allowing life to offer her and Callum a second chance at happiness. This is such a lovely story as not only does the beautiful Isle of Arran comes alive but we also get to spend time with a lovely array of characters who bring a real heartwarming empathy to this delightful will they, won’t they story. The coziness of living in a small town comes to life and shows how supportive small communities can be when people need help.

Wonderfully festive, with oodles of charm, and a heartwarming love story at its heart, A Christmas Wish on Arran had everything I wanted from a festive read. It’s as comforting as a delicious hot chocolate sprinkled with cream and marshmallows and is perfect escapism from the Christmas rush.

About the Author

Ellie Henderson lives near the sea on the east coast of Scotland and is a regular visitor to the Isle of Arran on the west coast of Scotland. When she's not writing she runs creative workshops in the community.

Twitter / X @EllieHbooks #AChristmasWishOnArran

Twitter / X @JoffeBooks

🎄 Featured Book of the Month ~ Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Harper Collins
21 November 2021

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

December, 1952

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to deliver her first Christmas speech, staff work behind the scenes to get ready for the festivities at Sandringham Estate. Among them are Jack and Olive – old friends who are surprised to be reunited after seven years apart.

While Olive works for the BBC reporting on the royal family, and Jack is employed in the queen’s kitchens, their bond deepens – until a secret threatens to tear them apart. When the truth comes to light, it could change Olive and Jack's lives forever.

But maybe Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

🎄My Review..

As I start this month of festive reads I can think of no better story to have as my featured book of the month in December than Christmas with the Queen. Right from the very start of this lovely story, which covers the years 1952-1957, I was taken back in time to the early years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, watching her grow in confidence as she takes on the daunting task of broadcasting her first Christmas speech to the nation and commonwealth.

Not only is this a fascinating look at how the Queen’s Christmas Day broadcasts developed, but it also gives us the chance get to know the two lovely lead characters who hold the story together in such a special way. Olive Carter is a fledgling journalist working at the BBC and hoping to become a royal correspondent and American, Jack Devereux, a talented chef, who gets the opportunity to work in the royal kitchens at Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Balmoral. Told in individual chapter we learn more about Olive and Jack, and also about Queen Elizabeth herself which makes for a fascinating glimpse into this royal world. However, running alongside is the story of Jack and Olive’s friendship which began in 1945 at the end of WWII and of a secret which, once discovered, will test Olive and Jack’s will they, won’t they relationship to the limit.

Beautifully written, with such a heartwarming message, Christmas with the Queen captured my imagination from the start. It sweeps you from post war London, to the elegant beauty of the Royal estate at Sandringham and gives a tantalising glimpse into life there however,  it is with Olive and Jack where the heart of the story lies, and it is their story running alongside that of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip which makes this into such a special festive read.

About the Authors

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author know fir her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining moments of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical novel of the year award. Hazel’s wotk has been translated into twenty languages and is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.

Heather Webb is the award winning and bestselling author of ten historical novels. To date her books have been translated into eighteen languages. She lives in Connecticut with her family and two mischievous cats.

Hazel and Heather’s co-written historical novels include:

Last Christmas in Paris

Meet me in Monaco 

Three Words for Goodbye 

Christmas with the Queen

Social Media

Hazel’s Website

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🎄Festive Read ~ Last Christmas at Ballyclare by Emily Bell

Penguin

19 October 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Natasha is flying home for Christmas to Ballyclare - a beautiful old house in the Wicklow hills. When her friend Ben - who she was so sure could be more than that - abandons his plan to join her, she's devastated. Another year of just her mother and sister Doon for company.

To add to her woes, no sooner has she arrived home - her sanctuary through many a storm - than she is told it might have to be sold. And to the man whose younger brother broke Doon's heart all those years ago.

Will this be their last Christmas at Ballyclare? Or could a little bit of Christmas magic, and unexpected romance, help all three McDonnell women find their path?

🎄My Review..

Natasha returns home to Ballyclare for Christmas only to find that there is a crisis concerning her family home which may have to be sold as repairs to the old place are astronomically high. For Natasha, her mother, Aileen and sister, Doon, there are some tense times ahead but with Christmas approaching they are determined to enjoy one last Christmas at Ballyclare. 

Filled with the warmth of family, and the support of friends, Last Christmas at Ballyclare is a lovely festive story which looks at the trials and tribulations of keeping an old family home safe whilst at the same time allowing each of the three women to share their hopes and fears for the future. It’s not all hearts and flowers as the story covers some serious topics but it’s all done with a lovely light touch and a fine eye for detail. I’ve really enjoyed spending time in this little Irish village, there is an abundance of festive charm, a smattering of romance and enough festive spirit to give you a lovely warm glow. 

Best read with...cheese and crackers by front of a roaring fire.

About the Author

Emily Bell is an Irish Times bestselling author who grew up in Dublin and moved to London after university. She has had various jobs including tour guide, bookseller and pub singer, and now writes full time. She lives in north London with her husband and daughter. She is the author of Baby It's Cold Outside and This Year's for Me and You, winner of the RNA Christmas Festive/Holiday Romantic Novel award

Twitter #EmilyBell  #LastChristmasarBallyclare

@PenguinBooksUK

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🎄Festive Read ~ The Christmas Highland Lodge by Julie Shackman

 

🎄Time for some lovely festive reads 🎄

One More Chapter
20 October 2023

Scottish Escapes #5

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Lottie Grant loves the festive season so much that she works at the incredibly successful Christmas shop, Christmas Crackers, in her pretty Scottish home town of Craig Brae. But when the shop is sold, her world is turned upside down, leaving her wondering what she will do next.

Just as she’s about to give up hope on finding a new dream job, an offer comes that she can’t refuse, managing a set of luxury wooden cabins… and opening just in time for Christmas!

As she gets to work decorating the cabins, and hanging lights on the fir trees, Lottie can’t believe her luck. That is until the arrival of Blake Dempster, a moody but handsome hiking expert, who threatens to bring down her festive joy. But never one to shy away from a challenge, Lottie is determined to change Blake’s mind about all things festive.

And as the snow falls and the fairy lights sparkle, will work-obsessed Lottie and frozen-hearted Blake make their Christmas wishes come true?

🎄My Review..

Just before Christmas Lottie Grant is given the devastating news that the Christmas shop she manages in the pretty Scottish town of Craig Brae is to close down however, an amazing opportunity presents itself and Lottie is given the chance to use her designer skills on preparing a group of themed holiday cabins. Given carte blanche to get the cabins ready for the festive season Lottie does her best to add some much needed sparkle only to find opposition from the handsome, but decidedly grumpy, Blake Dempster who seems determined to take away Lottie's Christmas shine.

This is a lovely warm-hearted story and you can't help but be drawn into Lottie's enthusiasm for all things festive. Her growing relationship with Blake, although off to a rocky start, adds a certain frisson of excitement and I certainly enjoyed watching how their relationship would play out. The other characters who flit into and out of the story add a sense of community and I loved how Craig Brae came alive, with its quirky shopkeepers, seasonal festive markets and an intrepid mountain rescue team. Although the book is book number five in the Scottish Escapes series it reads perfectly well as a standalone story.

Wonderfully festive, with a hint of will they, won't they romance the The Christmas Highland Lodge is a perfect read for the holiday season.

🍷Best Read with...a glass of mulled wine and a cinnamon and hazelnut mince pie

About the Author

Julie Shackman trained as a journalist and studied Media & Communication before turning her hand to women's fiction. She lives in Scotland with her husband and two teenage sons.

Twitter @G13Julie #TheChristmasHighlandLodge

@OneMoreChapter_

🎄Festive Read ~ This Christmas by Emma Heatherington

🎄Time for some lovely festive reads 🎄

Penguin
26 October 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

 

Rose used to love Christmas – until the year everything changed. She hasn’t been home to visit her family for the holidays since.

Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. It may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but not for him. Not this year.

In search of comfort and seclusion, Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to hunker down for the festive season alone.

But when Charlie opens the door to Seaview Cottage, the two strangers realise that their holiday rental has been double-booked.

Both of them expected to spend this Christmas alone. But their lives could be changed forever if they agree to spend it together.

🎄My Review..

Rose Quinn and Charlie Sheerin should never have met but when they are both inadvertently brought together by a Christmas double booking at Seaview Cottage they have no choice but to make the best of the situation. Both of them, for very different reasons, are nursing a broken heart and this gentle story about the healing power of love is sprinkled with a generous helping of friendship, romance and Christmas magic.

With a winter wonderland setting, magical walks through a snow-laden forest and with a tug away at the old heartstrings with Rose's poignant connection to a majestic old lighthouse This Christmas had everything I wanted in a festive read. There's  definitely a 'will, they, won't they romantic vibe and with a generous cast of quirky characters who each bring something quite special, including two wonderful canine companions, this magical story captures your heart from the beginning. The ending melted my heart and left me with a wonderful warm glow.

Best read with...hot chocolate with gooey marshmallows and a hint of Christmas magic

About the Author

Emma Heatherington is the international best-selling author of thirteen novels, including the Amazon UK Top 10 and USA Kindle hit The Legacy of Lucy Harte, as well as Secrets in the Snow and The Promise. Her novels are set in Ireland, each exploring life affirming issues combined with heart-warming love stories. Emma's distinctive style, full of poignancy and warmth has developed a loyal and ever-growing fan base.

X/Twitter @EmmaLouWriter

@PenguinUKBooks

🎄Festive read ~ Four Weddings and a Christmas by Phillipa Ashley

                            

🎄Time for some lovely festive reads 🎄

Avon Books UK
13 November 2023

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Can the spirit of Christmas reignite an old flame?

With her thriving business Cottage Angels, Freya Bolton prepares the Lake District’s holiday homes for Christmas visitors. It’s her job to think of everything, from cinnamon-scented candles to tasteful decorations and hampers of seasonal treats.

If only her love life were such a success… After being burned by past relationships, she’s now determined to steer clear of love for good.

So when she bumps into gorgeous – and single – ex-boyfriend Travis, a no-strings festive fling seems perfect.

But when her feelings for him begin to develop, is she on track for another romantic calamity? Or could this Christmas give her the gift of true love?

🎄My Review

Freya Bolton lives in the pretty Lake District village of Bannerdale where she has a thriving holiday homes business. Everything is running smoothly in Freya's life, with just the occasional hiccup when something goes wrong with one of the holiday lets, that is until Freya's ex-boyfriend Travis returns to the village. With so much history between them Freya and Travis have lots of wrongs to put right before they can each move on with their lives.

This lovely festive story goes right into what makes relationships successful, past secrets and misdemeanors come to the surface but ultimately what shines through is the love and friendship of close family and special friends. The Lake District setting adds an unashamedly romantic element to the story as who could fail to be emotionally reactive to the sweeping majesty of the hills, lakes and fells of this magical place.

Four Weddings and a Christmas is a warm and wonderful story with a hefty dose of Christmas cheer which is the perfect antidote to festive stress.

🍵Best read with...an aromatic coffee with a hint of spirit

About the author

Phillipa Ashley is a Sunday Times and Amazon Top 10 best selling author of uplifting romantic novels.

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Twitter @PhillipaAshley #FourWeddingsAndAChristmas

@AvonBooksUK

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🎄Festive Read ~ A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor by Christie Barlow

🎄Time for some lovely festive reads 🎄

Harper Collins UK
One More Chapter

28 September 2023

Love Heart Lane #12

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Fashion designer Libby Carter has always loved weddings, so when her brother finds himself in a bind and asks her to step in and plan the perfect winter wonderland wedding for guests at his hotel, Starcross Manor, she happily takes on the challenge. But this is no ordinary Christmas wedding and when everything starts to go awry Libby asks gorgeous videographer Guy Hart for help.

This isn’t single dad Guy’s usual gig – and he is not a fan of weddings – but saying no to vivacious Libby isn’t an option … especially when saying yes leads to one very unforgettable kiss under the mistletoe!

🎄My Review...

Fashion designer Libby Carter has just landed her dream job in New York when her brother asks her, at the last minute, to step in to help to organise an important wedding at Starcross Manor.  With her flair for design Libby faces the challenges of organising this wedding only to meet the most belligerent couple imaginable whose ideas for their wedding are rather unusual. Libby finds an ally in videographer Guy Hart and as the wedding plans get underway so does the attraction between Libby and Guy.

What then follows is a story filled with warmth and friendship and with a generous sprinkling of Christmas magic A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor is a delight to read from start to finish.  The wonderful community around Starcross Manor really pull together to make this wedding a success but there are pitfalls along the way and all does not go smoothly. I love how the author weaves all the magic together and with a delightful twist this really is a story filled with the warmth of Christmas magic.

Set in the idyllic Heartcross this unashamedly romantic story is now the twelfth book in the successful Love Heart Lane series of rom-com novels and whilst some of the characters may overlap it is entirely possible to read A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor without having read any of the previous stories however, this is such a wonderful series that it really is a delight to read the each of the books in order.

🍵Best read with ...a delicious cup of spicy hot chocolate

About the Author

Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of seventeen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty's Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.

Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. 

Christie writes about love, life. friendships and the importance of community spirit.

Twitter @ChristieJBarlow #AWinterWeddingAtStarcrossManor

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