And another Christmas read? With pleasure, and I’m delighted to share my review of Meet Me In Central Park by Jo Bartlett. I will mention – just in case you find you’ve read it before – that this book was previously published as The Christmas Shop at Central Park, but Boldwood clearly felt it deserved a gorgeous new cover and the opportunity to reach new readers (and they were absolutely right!). Published on 20th September, it’s now available as an ebook, paperback and audiobook – the e-copy I read was downloaded free via Prime reading.
I’m running out of new ways to start a post about one of Jo’s books now! You’ll already know how much I loved The Cornish Midwife series – and the Seabreeze Farm series too. And only a few weeks ago I shared my excitement at the launch of her new series – and I’d so highly recommend the first book, Welcome to the Cornish Country Hospital, uplifting, heartwarming and beautifully written, and such a perfect introduction (I’m already hooked…). You’ll find all my many reviews if you pop her name into my search bar on the right hand side of the page – and, as she’s such a personal favourite, it’s a pleasure to share yet another today as part of my Christmas celebrations!
Will their Christmas wish come true?
Libby Cooper hasn’t celebrated Christmas since the night her parents died in a terrible accident. She wants to forget that the season of goodwill even exists; but her grandmother has other ideas. It’s time for Libby to start living her life just as her parents would have wanted her to do.
First stop New York!
What better way to immerse herself in the celebrations, than working in her great aunt’s Christmas shop, just a few blocks from Central Park? Making new friends in the Big Apple is the easy bit, but leaving the past behind proves much harder than Libby imagined.
Long walks in gorgeous Central Park help, and here she meets Harry Stanwick, a Central Park Ranger. Harry seems to know instinctively when Libby wants to talk or when she just needs to sit quietly on their special bench with him by her side.
Slowly, Libby begins to feel some of the pain of her past slipping away. And as New York begins to work its magic and her friendship with Harry grows, so too do Libby’s feelings for him.
But can she ever be truly happy without the people who matter the most to her? Or can Harry convince Libby that she deserves her own Christmas miracle -and her chance of happiness – sitting with him on their bench in Central Park?
From Jo Bartlett, the bestselling author of The Cornish Midwives Series, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Holly Martin and Christie Barlow.
There are a few settings that are just perfect for a Christmas story – although I rather like the comforts of home at that time of year, I’ll admit New York has long been on my wish list for a future festive visit. But Libby is a rather more reluctant visitor – Christmas hasn’t been the same since the accident that claimed the lives of her parents, but her grandparents will be away, and there are other compelling reasons why it might be a good idea for her not to be around for a while.
Her gran’s sister runs a Christmas shop near Central Park, and needs help while recovering from a hip operation – perhaps not the most suitable of places for someone still suffering with grief and guilt and who’d prefer to avoid the festive season altogether. But her time in New York puts her on the path to healing – new friendships and distractions, and an unexpected romance with the lovely Harry, a Central Park ranger, who shows her the delights of the city and begins to help mend her broken heart.
I will admit – a little reluctantly, and with apologies – that I did find my sympathy for Libby running just a little thin at times. However tragic her experience, her grief could sometimes be a touch too much – but the characters around her most definitely made up for that (I really loved her great-aunt’s approach to life…), along with the perfect and detailed setting. This really is a book you could use as a guide for places to visit during the festive season – beautifully done, its joy gradually bringing about the change in Libby that began to find her a place in my heart. Heading for home before Christmas itself – always her plan – slowly becomes less of an option, and the story steadily builds towards the possibility of a far happier ending.
The romance is gorgeous, the friendships just wonderful, there are a few surprises along the way, and the whole story is beautifully told – and despite my slightly mixed feelings about some of the emotional content, it’s as perfectly handled as I’ve come to expect from the author. And it really is a lovely and very moving Christmas read – and one that couldn’t fail to warm your heart whatever the season.
About the author
Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood published the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series – part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.
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