Sorry, a little later in the day than I planned – but my third review of the day! It’s not very often (in fact, it’s unheard of!) that I read one of Beth Moran’s books so long after publication – but when I ran out of reviewing time before my cruise, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year looked like a perfect one to set aside for my Christmas reading list. Published by Boldwood Books on 6th August, it’s now available as an e-book (free with Amazon Prime), in paperback and hardcover, and as an audiobook. My thanks to the publishers for my advance e-copy, provided via netgalley – and I’m sorry my review has taken so long.
Beth’s writing is something I always enjoy, whatever the season – and if you enjoy Christmas reads, I’m sure you’ll already have enjoyed Let It Snow (published in 2022, and available free via Kindle Unlimited) as much as I did (you’ll find my review here). In 2023, Take Me Home was a real favourite and deserved its place in my 2023 Books of the Year list – an emotional story beautifully told, and a tentative romance that was everything I wanted it to be (you’ll find my full review here). The book I chose to include in my 2024 Books of the Year list was Lean On Me – moving, life-affirming, and totally unforgettable (you’ll find my full review here). And this year I’ve already really enjoyed Have I Told You Lately, an emotional story at times, but so very uplifting by its perfect end (you’ll find my review here). But it’s another Christmassy book this time – and it was one I was very much looking forward to…
Mary never planned to stop running.
With a past she’s desperate to leave behind and a baby on the way, she’s found a new home, deep in the forest, hidden from the world. But when the time comes to go to the hospital, she has no idea that Beckett, the quiet, steady taxi driver who braves the blizzard to reach her, will change everything.
As Mary adjusts to life with her newborn, she finds herself drawn into a local close-knit community she never expected to be part of. Beckett is always there – dependable, patient and offering a friendship she doesn’t know how to accept but slowly comes to rely on.
In a place she thought she’d only ever be passing through, Mary finally learns what it truly means to belong. And as Christmas approaches, she begins to believe that maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t have to do this alone, and that this could be the start of something wonderful…
Mary has fled from her former life, finding much-needed refuge in a dilapidated – and distinctly cheerless – cottage in the depths of Sherwood Forest. She’s in the late stages of pregnancy – and when her moment arrives, she calls for a taxi to take her to hospital just as a snowstorm starts to cause problems on the roads. Taxi driver Beckett, who trained as a doctor, remains calm and takes her to the nearby New Life Community Church – where they find help, but also meet a group of wonderful people who will make a vast difference to both their lives.
Beckett (such a lovely man…) has problems of his own – the ongoing care of his grandfather, whose health has declined following a stroke and who is proving particularly difficult to cope with. But his heart goes out to Mary, unprepared for her baby’s arrival – at first he takes her the essentials, then a Christmas tree, and their continuing friendship begins to mean a great deal to them both. And then there’s the remarkable group of people they met during that dash to the hospital – a support network for them both, and the wider friendship group that they both so badly needed. And they can help them out too – with no costumes for their Christmas concert, Mary’s skill set from her previous life is just what they need.
And we slowly find out more about the events that drove Mary to hole up in the middle of a forest – with her past life catching up with her just at the point she’d decided to tell Beckett, growing ever closer and more central to her life, all about it. It’s quite a story, one that pulls on every heartstring and that I really mustn’t share – but while bridges previously important in her life are rebuilt, they bring misunderstandings that cause cracks in her new relationships, including a breakdown in communication (with more than a few complications attached) with the usually ever-patient Beckett.
We learn about Mary’s former life through flashbacks within the narrative – the story is told from the perspectives of both Mary and Beckett, sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings, and that works ever so well. And while they both found a special place in my heart, so did many of the other quirky and well drawn characters who entered their lives. Beckett’s grandfather, veering between difficult and impossible, offensive to everyone – but with a real affection for Mary’s baby, Bob – was a quite wonderfully drawn character, but my heart did go out to Beckett handling his behaviour on a daily basis (and having his sleep so regularly disturbed too, with very little respite). And that wider community they all become so much a part of – their love and support made me wipe away many a tear, and I adored every one of them, with glimpses of many of their back stories too.
The emotional touches in this book are so perfectly judged – the moments of joy and laughter, the struggles, the fresh starts and second chances, and the real sadness that impacts so many of their lives. And as a Christmassy read – it really was everything I wanted it to be. The loveliest read from a favourite author – and one I’d very much recommend you add to your reading list.
About the author
Beth Moran is the award winning author of fourteen contemporary fiction novels, including the top ten bestselling Just the Way You Are. Her books are set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she can be found most mornings walking with her spaniel Murphy. She has the privilege of also being a foster carer to teenagers, and enjoys nothing better than curling up with a pot of tea and a good story.
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