I’m delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour for Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston, and sharing my review: published today by Goldcrest Books, it’s now available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation to read and review, and to the author and publisher for my advance reading e-copy.
Did you ever read Claire’s Love in the Comptons series? I really loved all three books – Art and Soul (you’ll find my review here), The Only Exception (the most gorgeous romance, with the most perfect chemistry between the two main characters – you’ll find my review here), and Clues to You (the perfect combination of an enemies-to-lovers contemporary romcom and the most intriguing of period cosy mysteries – review here). And somewhere in between, I really enjoyed Elle’s A to Z of Love – a beautifully written romance, full of twists and turns and misunderstandings, but with such a perfect happy ending (you can read my full review again here). That was my first visit to Haileybrook village – and I couldn’t have been more delighted when I realised we were returning there for her latest. And I really must stress that while Claire’s books often have a few passing references to earlier events and recurring characters (a special treat for those of us who’ve read her books before!) there’s absolutely nothing to prevent you reading any one as a standalone – and if you haven’t tried one yet, I’d really urge you to give her lovely writing a try.
Let’s take a closer look at her latest…
An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.
Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.
Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.
A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.
But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas…
Escaping from a conference that’s only confirming that she might be in the wrong job, Bella visits the church in Haileybrook where her marriage would have taken place if everything hadn’t gone so badly wrong – only to find another wedding about to take place, a bride needing help with her dress, and Jack badly in need of a plus one for the celebrations. He’s going to find the day especially difficult, and she’s more than happy to step in – and help the organisers too when some of the smaller guests get a little out of hand. Bella and Jack really hit it off, there’s an unforgettable kiss… and then she disappears into the night, without saying goodbye, needing to deal with a family emergency.
Their time together might just have been a lovely memory – until she decides to leave the job she hated and return to the Cotswolds, using her accountancy skills while working at Haileybrook’s retirement home, only to find that Jack also works there as a jack-of-all trades, much loved by all the residents. But he’s not particularly welcoming to Bella, still hurt by her abrupt departure – and they need to get to know and trust each other again before there’s any possibility of them having any kind of future together.
Bella herself is so lovely, playful and fun and so endearing, along with a heart of pure gold – and the sizzle of attraction between her and the lovely Jack gave me a fair bit of confidence that they’d get past their falling out. Those family issues haven’t gone away though, they’ve just come a little closer to home, adding additional complication to Bella’s life.
The book has a fantastic supporting cast – the local community, the residents at the home – with every character so beautifully drawn. And it’s almost Christmas, with a village fair to be organised, and all the shenanigans you might expect when individuals try to assert themselves as the ones in charge – and with a heavy snowfall and all the tinsel and sparkling lights I could possibly have asked for. And then, there’s a bit of a cosy mystery too – with accusations flying around, and some advice needed from the “experts” we met in the last book on how to unmask the perpetrator. Beautifully written, with a few emotional moments (and some unexpected twists and turns too), but also plenty of well-judged humour – and the romance at the book’s centre was absolutely everything I wanted it to be.
This was such an enjoyable read, and one I’d encourage everyone to add to their Christmas reading list – totally delightful!
About the author
Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.
A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.
You can connect with Claire through her website – and you’ll also find her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads. You’ll find all her social media links via this Linktree.
Thank you so much Anne (again!) for this lovely review and taking part in the blog tour. I really appreciate it 🙂 xx
Such a lovely read Claire – the review was a pleasure xx