Published 10th October 2024 by Simon and Schuster.
From the cover of the book:
Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?
***********
Bella is in her element as December approaches, and looking forward to decking out the house she inherited from her grandparents in her usual full-on, festive style. This is also her busiest time of year when it comes to her rapidly expanding business, Away with the Fairies, so her hands are going to be full making stock for all the Christmas fairs ahead.
A hiccup in her plans arises when the Connelly Clan at Wynthorpe Hall ask Bella if she would be willing to put up a guest in the run-up to Christmas. Freelance author Jude is writing a book all about the Hall, but the bustling environment there is overwhelming him. He needs peace and quiet, and given all the help the Connellys have given Bella over the years, she feels she can hardly refuse.
Grumpy Jude sets Bella's nerves on edge, but her dog Tink love him at first sight, and soon she begins to warm to him too. She begins to think there might be the chance of romance before he has to leave, but when he drops the bombshell that he is not a fan of her favourite time of year, she has no idea what to do with the feelings she has developed... or what this means for the festive season.
Back to Wynbridge we go for another lovely Christmas adventure at the hands of Heidi Swain, and it is just like returning to old friends, who are here aplenty! Bella is building up to her favourite, and busiest, time of year, looking forward to festive fun in the company of her spaniel Tink, and all her Wynbridge pals. She is not one to indulge overly in thoughts of love, beyond a fling here and there, given the experiences of her mum, but this is going to be a Christmas full of surprises that drag her right our of her comfort zone!
As is Swain's forte, there is lots of lovely stuff here about the Wynbridge community, updating the reader on the lives of her vivid characters, mixed in with glorious detail about all the festive activities that Bella is 100% committed to - and plenty of enchanting fairy-related elements too. You can feel the crisp winter days, smell the festive cooking aromas, and find yourself itching to get going with your own Christmas traditions.
Romance lies at the heart of the story, for more than one character, but it is what happens between Bella and Jude that captures your imagination, and your heart. With bags of romantic suspense (with all the mishaps and misunderstandings this entails), this tale touches of several delicious love-story tropes in the very best way possible. Bella's quest to convince Jude that Christmas really is the best time of year takes them both on a journey that opens her heart, and heals his, wrapping up in the most glorious of endings filled with Christmas (and fairy) magic. I loved the way little Tink takes on the role of match-making, go-between too.
Christmas Heidi Swain style really is the best thing to kick off the countdown to the festive season. Mince pies, anyone?
Home for Christmas is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this Books and the City blog tour.
About the author:
She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles.
Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!
No comments:
Post a Comment