Bella’s Countryside Christmas

by Claire Huston

Firstly, I love that the main character in this book is called Bella 😊

Secondly, I love that Bella is such a likeable character. I warmed to her instantly. She’s a braver woman than me. There is no way I could gate-crash a wedding pretending to be someone else, although I understand her desire to help people and I’m sure Jack being quite easy on the eye helped. I do believe we just click immediately with some people. The whole situation is amusing and heart-warming. I’m surprised she left when she did.

I certainly don’t blame her for wanting to move to a cosy cottage in the countryside. Life is too short to be miserable.

Claire Huston’s description of village life sounds exactly as I would imagine it to be. Everyone knowing everyone and everything about each other. I imagine it would be comforting and somewhat annoying sometimes at the same time. I do love the sense of community though which I think has been lost in most of today’s society, unfortunately.

There are some fabulous characters throughout this book. There’s a fair to be organised, a crime to be solved which adds a bit of suspense to the story, issues with colleagues, family dynamics, festive cheer and the stress that often comes with it, and of course romance. What’s not to love!?

This book made me smile a lot and sometimes laugh out loud. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

** Many thanks to Claire Huston for my review copy **

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 …