About the book…
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?
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/aRvkJba
About the author…
A lover of Galaxy bars, vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes contemporary fiction and enjoys the company of a whole host of feisty female characters.
Heidi can be found at the keyboard at all hours of the day and night and quite often scribbling longhand in her car during her lunch break. She lives in stunning south Norfolk with her wonderful son and daughter and a mischievous cat called Storm.
Contact Links:
Heidi loves to chat with her readers and you can get in touch via
her website heidiswain.co.uk/ or
Twitter @Heidi_Swain
My thoughts…
There is nothing more perfect than a Heidi Swain Christmas novel. Home for Christmas was exactly what it said on the cover - I felt right at home, back in Wynbridge, back with familiar characters and once again itching to be part of this perfect community.
The focal character in Home for Christmas is Bella, Bella lives in the house she inherited from her grand-parents, renting the main part of it out for nine months of the year whilst she nestles herself and her business “Away with the Fairies” up into the small upstairs apartment.
I can’t tell you what a delight this book was, Bella and her fairies and her love of all things Christmas warmed my heart from the inside out. As ever not everything in the village and Bella’s life is rosy and runs quite to plan. As a reader sitting on the periphery whilst Bella handled the unexpected, last minute house guest who threatens to de-rail both her business and Christmas was blood pressure inducing at times and as you’d expect gooey and mushy at others!
Jude was rude, abrupt and the grinch incarnated. He is the polar opposite to Bella. Whilst she is the full on, bright, sparkly all singing, all dancing kind of Christmas girl that doesn’t understand the phrase ‘too much’, Jude is the opposite, Christmas - whatever is that, it’s not to be embraced in any way, shape or form. He successfully manages to de-rail Bella’s life in an unexpected way. Thankfully Holly is surrounded by her close friends Holly, Bear and Jeanie as well as the Connolly clan from Wynthorpe Hall who all manage to support, interfere and guide her as she navigates her unexpected encounter with Jude, her pre-Xmas stalls and events making and selling her unique, individual fairies. I soooooooo want one!!
As with every single one of Heidi’s novels the characters stray from one story to another with the layers of their characters stripped back with each, revealing a bit more with every book. It was an absolute delight to be back amongst the locals, sharing drinks in the pub, tea in the cafe and lunch in the kitchen of Wynthrop Hall. Have I said before I want to move here - I want to be part of this fabulous community - I already feel I know so much about them all I know I’ll fit right in.
As ever this was the perfect tonic, There is the right balance of angst, love and romance. I loved every single page and was gutted when I turned the last one - Heidi Swain, once again you have brought sunshine and smiles to a very grey day and even got me starting my Christmas shopping! You know how to bring a smile to my face and I’m now wondering if October is too soon to put up the Christmas lights!
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