I don’t usually read Christmas books when it’s not winter time. Purely because I want to feel the magic of Christmas, and that’s hard to do when there’s sunshine outside. When the team at tandem advised me that the audiobook for The Country Village Christmas Show is available for this title, I decided to give it a show anyways.
Recently divorced, the family home sold and her son all grown-up, Clare is at a crossroads. She’s dedicated her whole adult life to her family, and now it’s time she did something for herself.
In the lead up to Christmas, Clare decides that a bit of time in the countryside might be just what she needs, so she moves back to Little Bramble, the village she grew up in. But living with her mum for the first time in years – and not to mention Goliath the Great Dane – can be challenging.
When Clare finds herself running the village Christmas show, it feels like she has purpose in her life again. Bringing together people from all sides of the community, and all walks of life, will Clare manage to pull off a festive feat like no other? And will she find the new start in life – and possibly love – that she’s been looking for?
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed listening to the audiobook for The Country Village Christmas Show and I think the narrator did an amazing job in telling the story. This was a Christmas book and yet I wasn’t able to witness the Christmas magic that Christmas books usually bring! It may have been because it’s almost summer, but I think it was something to do with the book itself.
The plot was interesting, but there was nothing special about it. Nothing stood up in particular, to make this book memorable. Clare is recently divorced and comes back to the countryside, to the place she grew up. Then she meets someone and even then, she’s too afraid to be happy. The romance in the book was terrible; no passion, no attraction, no flirting. The only good scene was the one where Sam opens up about his relationship with his sister and the accident. In terms of love sparks, or steamy scenes, there will be none in this book. So if you came here searching for that, I suggest you instead have a look at some of the books Georgia Le Carre has written.
The only reason this book has a “Christmas theme” is because a Christmas Show happens during the book. And I really enjoyed this part. The auditions for the show in particular. However, I expected more content when it came to this, and it’s just another scene in the book. I would’ve thought it would have more meaning, especially due to the mother’s connection to the hall.
I believe the focus of this book was Claire’s recovery from her divorce, and moving on with her life. The ultimate lesson that even when you think something terrible in your life happened, there is always time for a new beginning. And when I look at the book from this aspect, it did deliver. We had an amazing dog helping Clare out, her son and her mum gave her the support she needed and the feeling of belonging. However, on that same note of mental happiness, when Claire arrived in her town, her mother was clearly depressed. And Claire mentines this a few times, and then all of a sudden, everything is fine again, the mum has fallen in love and her routine is back to normal. We are left with no explanation on this transition and I just feel that this part could’ve been done so much better!
The Country Village Christmas Show a great story to let people know that it’s not the end of the world if you get a divorce, or if you lose someone… A great story to enjoy in your free time, but definitely not my cup of tea.
Rating:
★★
About The Author:
Cathy Lake is a pseudonym for a women’s fiction writer who lives with her family and three dogs in beautiful South Wales. She writes uplifting stories about strong women, family, friendship, love, community and overcoming obstacles.Cathy Lake also writes under the names Megan Attley and Darcie Boleyn
I know we’re way past Christmas now, but there’s never a bad time to read a Christmas book. And One More for Christmas is the perfect book to bring the Christmas magic any time of the year. Huge thanks to the author, Sarah Morgan, for sending me a signed copy of this book to read and review! I will forever treasure it!
Synopsis
Gayle is a highly successful and motivated business woman, but her success has come at a price – she hasn’t spoken to her daughters, Ella and Samantha, for years. But when Gayle has an accident at work, she realises she needs to make amends with her family.
And so she invites herself to join Ella and Samantha for their Christmas in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The sisters are none too pleased that their mother has inserted herself into their Christmas plans. They have each other – and don’t need their mother back in their lives. Or so they think…
As they embark on their first family Christmas together in years, will the three women learn that sometimes facing up to a few home truths is all you need to heal your heart?
My Thoughts:
I actually read One More For Christmas during the Christmas holidays, but as you can see, I am still trying to keep up to date with my backlist. This is not your typical Christmas book. It’s a modern story, about complicated relationships and pursuing careers. It’s also about how sometimes changing your perspective in life can bring you true happiness.
Gayle has not been the best mother to her daughters, and that’s why Ella and Samantha have learned to stick together. When they end up having to spend Christmas with their mum, many emotions start to come back. Sarah Morgan has succeeded in portraying their relationship and their point of view, and we can grasp their complexity thanks to her.
“A relationship is like a jigsaw, isn’t it? Whether it’s with a partner, with friends or with your children – it’s made up of hundreds of tiny pieces, some imperfect. Those characteristics unique to each one of us, the genes we inherit, our life experiences, the way we behave. Tony, misshapen little pieces that make us who we are. And when you make a life with someone, you have to somehow find a way to make all those pieces fit. If you’re lucky, they come together into something that makes sense as a whole.”
Even though the relationship between the mother and her daughters seems to drive the story, this book is so much more than that. Modern romance, beautiful Christmassy moments set on a mountain in Scotland and powerful feminist voice!
The perfect modern Christmas book!
I especially loved the scenes that brought the Christmas spirits, especially through the eyes of a little girl. The reindeers, the snow, the food and the family atmosphere, it was all so warm and loving. It was quite unique to also read about how Ella and Samantha feel about Christmas as well, having grown up without celebrating it. And the same goes for Gayle as well – her reasons for not celebrating Christmas with her daughters, and her personal development throughout the book.
Emotional, modern and amazingly written Christmas book that will transport you to the magical Scottish mountains. I love Sarah Morgan’s writing and can’t wait to read her next book. I hope her books become movie adaptations one day as well!
A Family for Christmas is the first book in the Little Shops on Heart Street series by Viv Royce. It is a wonderful Christmas story about new beginnings, courage, love and kindness, and I enjoyed it so much! I read it on Christmas day, and I am so happy I did! Huge thank you to the author, who suggested this book to me during a random Twitter conversation, as well as Netgalley and the publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC for granting me an ARC copy of this book.
Synopsis:
Emma Miller recently moved to the quiet town of Wood Creek, opening her business and selling chocolates and bonbons to the residents. One day, a small her stops by her shop with a very unique request, and Emma is so intrigued. The little girl needs chocolates for her dad that will make him fall in love with her teacher. Emma can’t deny this little girl and of course, she complies. Little does she know, when Casey’s charming dad comes to the shop to find the creator of the chocolates, they will get on quite well. But she has to remind herself to be careful. After all, she knows that as soon as she gets attached to people, they tend to leave.
The pilot Grant Galloway is surprised by his daughter’s surprise, and he is even more curious about the lady that made these chocolates. After his wife passed away, he is still picking up the pieces of his broken heart. And Wood Creek is only a temporary stop for him and Casey. As soon as he finds a day piloting job, he will move away. He cannot allow to start anything new, especially not now, before the holidays.
Thanks to some Christmas wishes, though, these two might discover that their carefully laid plans are about to change.
My Thoughts:
Reading this book at Christmas day added a special Christmas magic to it, and I finished it within a few hours. I loved the story, and I loved the characters. There is something about small towns that I miss now that I live in a big city. The kindness of the people, and the closeness. I used to find it intrusive that people knew everything about you, but these days, I find it very comforting, especially when people tend to alienate more and more each day.
The little town is beautiful, and Emma’s shop was described so well. I could almost see and taste her amazing chocolate creations. And same goes with Grant’s family business and the town fair that they were organising and decorating, right before Christmas.
I am always looking around for a romance novel, and I enjoyed Grant and Emma’s story. It wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to, but the book was quite short, and I think it was due to that. I still loved their little moments as well.
My favorite character has to be Casey. After knowing what I know, I can see how brave it was for her to come into Emma’s shop and ask for that favour. And that just says how much her dad’s happiness means for her. She is so selfless and kind, and oh so brave. Especially with the other surprise that she plans for her dad.
If you are looking for a lovely Christmas romance during your Christmas or winter holidays – grab this book. It has everything – the lovely town and lovely people, a family atmosphere, a lovely romance and a Christmas miracle magic in the end with a perfect happy ending. I am so glad I read this!
I was very lucky and won A Knight Before Christmas by Ric Lumb through a Twitter giveaway. As soon as the book arrived, alongside with 5 cute illustrated pins, I couldn’t resist and opened it immediately.
My Thoughts:
A Knight Before Christmas is a truly beautiful Christmas story. Even though the main story is about Christmas, it also has a medieval England element to it. Santa comes across a dragon that keeps eating the presents, and is in a help of a Knight, in order to save Christmas. The dragon, the knight, the king and queen and the jester made the story much more interesting and brought adventure to it. I loved how this was combined with Santa and Christmas and elves, and it turned out great! I am sure your little ones will enjoy it a lot!
The illustrations inside are very interesting, with simplistic features of the characters, thick lines and bright colours, which makes it appealing for children and catches their attention.
The text itself is quite easy to read, and rhymes well. I would recommend reading it aloud to a child, or if they are big enough, prompting them to read the book aloud, so they can fully enjoy the rhymes and how it sounds when narrated. The only small critique I had was regarding the grammar. There were many instances where a full stop was missing at the end of the sentence, when quotation marks were used.
The Knight Before Christmas is a beautiful children’s Christmas book, and I truly recommend it!
Welcome to the December TBR! I am so ready for Christmas! Well – both Christmases, actually. One on the 25th December, and one on the 7th January. Perks of being a Macedonian. Because of what this year has been, we have decided to make our small Christmases the best they can be, and celebrate it to the fullest. For the family gatherings we can’t have, we’ll compensate with more food, more songs and more fun games!
November was a very rich month in terms of my reading. I read around 16 books in total. I will be soon sharing my November Wrap Up Post, but if you’re interested to see the books, you can find them on my Instagram November Wrap Up photo. And because it’s Christmas season, I will try to pick books that I know I will enjoy and bring me into a happy mood!
You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. And this month, there will be a lot of surprises there as well, which you don’t want to miss.
And with that being said, let the December TBR raffle commence.
The December TBR Raffle
I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check out the “Monthly TBR” highlight at the beginning of each month!
My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 6 prompts, which result in 6 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.
My December TBR
✨ 1. Series
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling is a series I still have yet to complete, and the down time in Christmas is the perfect time to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I can’t wait to get back to Hogwarts! This year, the stakes are higher and danger is looming even in the world of the muggles.
Synopsis:
Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected…
Usually, I pick two books and do an Instagram Poll for it. But this time, I couldn’t choose two books, so I decided to ask you for a random number. I had 205 books on my TBR, and you chose random numbers. Then, having received a lot of responses, I did what every person would do – created a single elimination bracket. With seeding and all. I know, I know – no one would actually do that – but it was so much fun for me, and I will be doing it again, because my Instagram followers enjoyed it just as much!
And the book that Instagram picked for me is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I have heard some amazing things, and I am very excited to start this series!
Synopsis:
A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . .
CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.
This is not the fairytale you remember. But it’s one you won’t forget.
This prompt was so hard for me, because I own so many books with beautiful covers! So I decided to choose the most recent book that made me go “Aah” and admire it for a while, and that’s Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline. I loved Ready Player One, and honestly, I didn’t expect a second book. But now that it’s here, I want to see whether it will live up to my expectations.
Synopsis:
Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous – and addictive – than even Wade dreamed possible.
With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest – a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants. Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
Believe it or not, the book I have had on my TBR the longest is Divergent by Veronica Roth. I have been meaning to read it for so long, and now it’s finally time!
Synopsis:
THREE FLYING BIRDS… ONE FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY I LEFT BEHIND.
Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.
So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.
This prompt is to choose a book I have been sent by the team at LoveReading UK. And for this, I will choose The Coffinmaker’s Garden by Stuart MacBride, coming out in January 2021.
Synopsis:
A village on the edge… As a massive storm batters the Scottish coast, Gordon Smith’s home is falling into the North Sea. But the crumbling headland has revealed what he’s got buried in his garden: human remains.
A house full of secrets… With the storm still raging, it’s too dangerous to retrieve the bodies and waves are devouring the evidence. Which means no one knows how many people Smith’s already killed and how many more he’ll kill if he can’t be found and stopped.
An investigator with nothing to lose… The media are baying for blood, the top brass are after a scapegoat, and ex-Detective Inspector Ash Henderson is done playing nice. He’s got a killer to catch, and God help anyone who gets in his way.
Well, this works so well! A perfect last spin to end my December TBR. For this I am choosing One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan. I have formed a bit of a habit now, to read her Christmas books in December, and I will continue it this year as well.
Synopsis:
Gayle is a highly successful and motivated business woman, but her success has come at a price – she hasn’t spoken to her daughters, Ella and Samantha, for years. But when Gayle has an accident at work, she realises she needs to make amends with her family.
And so she invites herself to join Ella and Samantha for their Christmas in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The sisters are none too pleased that their mother has inserted herself into their Christmas plans. They have each other – and don’t need their mother back in their lives. Or so they think…
As they embark on their first family Christmas together in years, will the three women learn that sometimes facing up to a few home truths is all you need to heal your heart?
I will be reading Shiver by Allie Reynolds for a bookstagram readalong, and I am very excited for it! The readalong starts today, 1st December.
Synopsis:
They don’t know what I did. And I intend to keep it that way.
How far would you go to win? Hyper-competitive people, mind games and a dangerous natural environment combine to make the must-read thriller of the year. Fans of Lucy Foley and Lisa Jewell will be gripped by spectacular debut novel Shiver.
When Milla is invited to a reunion in the French Alps resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can’t seem to let go.
The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth.
In a deserted lodge high up a mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.
I will also be reading The Spiral by Iain Ryan as part of a bookstagram readalong, starting from the 11th December.
Synopsis:
Erma Bridges’ life is far from perfect, but entirely ordinary. So when she is shot twice in a targetted attack by a colleague, her quiet existence is shattered in an instant.
With her would-be murderer dead, no one can give Erma the answers she needs to move on from her trauma. Why her? Why now?
So begins Erma’s quest for the truth – and a dangerous, spiralling journey into the heart of darkness.
With all the inventiveness of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and the raw brutality of Mulholland Drive, THE SPIRAL is a unique crime thriller with killer twists – and 2020’s most jaw-dropping ending.
And that’s my December TBR. Because there are only 8 books in here, which means I will most probably be reading more, so keep an eye on my blog posts and social media. And wish me luck! <3 Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month. What is your December TBR? Let me know in the comments!
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