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Christmas with the Princes by Hannah Langdon #PublicationDay #NetGalley #NetGalleyUK

Christmas with the Princes

by Hannah Langdon 

I wouldn’t usually read a Christmas book this early in the year, but I requested this on NetGalley when I found out that Hannah Langdon had very sadly passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, after a short illness. Her author friends were keen to get as many people as possible to pre-order and/or request on NetGalley so, of course, I was more than happy to support. My heart goes out to Hannah’s family, friends, and colleagues.

This book is a gorgeous read! I was completely swept away with the romance of it, and it didn’t matter to me at all that we’re a little way off Christmas yet. I don’t think there’s any reason why this book would have to be read exclusively at Christmas time, although it would certainly enhance your enjoyment of the festive season.

Laura is a private nurse who is embarking on a new position at the estate of Lyonscroft. She is to care for Marilise, who is a wonderful character. The two of them hit it off straight away and Laura soon settles in. She is struggling with grief and immersing herself in her work seems to be her only option for now. She is also trying to avoid her sister’s wedding plans for as long as possible. A sister who is the polar opposite of Laura, self-centred and entitled.

When Laura first meets Nick Prince, and his beloved dog, in a hedge rescue situation, she doesn’t realise he is the heir to Lyonscroft. As she gets to know him further, he does nothing much to warm himself to her initially, but she soon has a softening effect on him, and he starts to grow on her.

As their romance blossoms, Lyonscroft begins to embrace Christmas like never before, bringing light, laughter, love, and excitement to a house previously devoid of joy. A brighter future for the heir indeed.

A beautiful story which I loved!

I need to catch up with books one and two now. I wish I had discovered Hannah Langdon before now.

** Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC via NetGalley **

A swoon-worthy tale of second chances and Christmas magic that will have you believing in holiday miracles!

When Laura Wilde arrives at the snow-dusted English estate of Lyonscroft for Christmas, she’s fleeing her sister’s wedding chaos and seeking refuge in her job as a private nurse. But this enchanting manor holds secrets – not least why the devastatingly handsome heir, Nick Prince, seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length…

Nick wants nothing more than to escape Christmas and sell the family estate, but Laura’s arrival changes everything. As she cares for his beloved grandmother, the spirited Princess Marilise, Laura finds herself caught between two worlds: the warmth and wisdom of an extraordinary woman with stories to tell, and the guarded heart of a man with a past he doesn’t want to talk about.

But when Laura transforms the cold, unwelcoming house into a magical Christmas wonderland, something shifts. Between unexpected dog rescues and stolen moments under the mistletoe, Laura must decide: will she play it safe and stick to her carefully ordered life, or risk everything for a love that could heal them both?

Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Beth Moran and Phillipa Ashley.

Happy reading!

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Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day

by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day is a fabulous festive read!

I immediately took to Jenny who I think is very brave to take on her late grandmother’s ramshackle (to put it mildly) cottage. I understand her need for a fresh start though and her determination to see it through.

I immediately took to Mack too, Jenny’s next-door neighbour, although he’s a grumpy so and so to begin with. We soon learn why.

These two have a lot going on, emotionally and otherwise, and I enjoyed how their relationship develops from neighbours barely tolerating each other to friends….

There is so much more going on throughout this story though….

Jenny’s job and the relationships she builds with the family she finds herself working for.

A local estate agent trying to bully her into selling the cottage.

The Book Club members are an interesting bunch. Lol!

The hunt for a famous local author who doesn’t seem to want to be found.

Jenny’s relationship with her mother.

Mack’s relationship struggles.

Some surprises along the way!

It all adds up to a brilliantly written story which had me hooked! I LOVED it!

** I borrowed Christmas Every Day from the Prime Reading Library **

When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose – no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better…

Her grumpy, but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.

Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love, learning to bake, to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.

Happy reading!

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The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story

by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt is a lovely festive short story. One I’m sure you could enjoy at any time of the year though.

There’s a seriously poorly elderly relative with one last wish. A niece who is determined to fulfil that wish and a bloke sent to throw a spanner in the works.

I love that this story is centred around finding a book. A unique book which isn’t going to be easy to track down, if it even exists at all!

I thoroughly enjoyed joining Mirren on her quest to make her great-aunt happy in her final days. I also enjoyed the romance she found along the way.

Lovely!

** I bought the kindle edition of this book on 17th November 2024 **

A Christmas mission…

Mirren’s beloved great-aunt Violet is seriously ill. Her one Christmas wish is to be reunited with a long-lost hand-illustrated book from her childhood, a challenge Mirren gladly accepts to give Violet some much-needed festive cheer.

An enchanting journey…

With no sign of the cherished volume online, Mirren falls into the fascinating world of rare books. From London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, she chases leads from bookshop to bookshop—and bumps into mysterious, charming Theo, who, unbeknownst to her, is searching for the same book for reasons of his own…

The start of a new chapter?

As the two join forces to track the book down before time runs out for Violet, will Mirren find her Christmas miracle—and maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe… ?

Happy reading!

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Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston @ClaraVal

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 …

Treat yourself….

Happy reading!