Guest Review: Christmas for the Village Midwife by Tilly Tennant

Snow crunches underfoot, lights twinkle on the lakes, and in the little village of Thimblebury, midwife Zoe is hoping for more than one Christmas miracle…

As the streets of Thimblebury are blanketed by sparkling snow, village midwife Zoe Padbury wants nothing more than to warm her cold feet by a roaring fire and spend the holidays holding hands with her handsome new boyfriend Alex.

But babies don’t stop being born, and Zoe is busier than ever with new arrivals (and her grumpy new boss at the surgery, who definitely doesn’t believe in the magic of Christmas).

It should be happy news when Zoe’s oldest friend Georgia arrives in Thimblebury, pregnant with her first baby, but it’s obvious that Georgia is far from happy and is hiding something. Zoe is determined to help her friend… but in doing so unravels a long-held secret that will impact them all. Has Zoe got in too deep, and is it too late for her to save Christmas in Thimblebury?

Review: This is the second in a series of books about midwife Zoe Padbury who has moved from Manchester to join a medical practice in the small Lake District village of Thimblebury. This book starts in the run up to Christmas. In the first book in the series, readers learned that Zoe had divorced her husband and was looking for a fresh start somewhere new. She is renting a small cottage some way out of the village on one of the local farms and has met another newcomer, Alex, who is becoming a good friend.

Zoe is finding it a busy time in the village, with lots of babies on the way. Unfortunately, the usually pleasant atmosphere in the village surgery has become more subdued because of the arrival of a new GP who seems to disapprove of lots of things, Christmas activities in particular. However, she has brought with her to the village her sister who is an old childhood friend of Zoe’s, and happens to be in the late stages of pregnancy. Zoe can’t help feeling that something is wrong in her friend’s household and is keen to sort things out, but Alex thinks she should leave well alone. As the snow falls thick and fast, bringing extra problems for the couple, Zoe hopes that her growing relationship with Alex can survive even though this is not the cosy first Christmas in the village that she had anticipated.

I thought that this was a delightful festive read. It took me on quite a roller coaster ride, with all the drama, excitement, humour and romantic moments. Having read the first book in the series, I was looking forward to finding out what was happening in the lives of this lively and warm community. It was easy to envisage the village and its surrounding homes, and I could well imagine what it must have looked like with a coating of snow - just like many a Christmas card. Zoe was such a lovely, caring character, like all of the staff in the local surgery; it is easy to see how they must have felt with the arrival of someone with a totally different outlook on life. I was glad that the reason for the newcomers’ behaviour came out in the end. I was really moved by the ending of the story and I’m already looking forward to reading the next part of this series and finding out what happens next for Zoe and Alex.

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Guest Review: Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop by Jessica Redland

It's the most wonderful time of the year at Bay Books, and a new love story is being written in the stars... ✨

Nestled amongst the comforting shelves of her beloved Bay Books, Lily Appleton finds the peace and quiet she needs. But with Christmas just around the corner, Lily has to find an extra pair of hands to help her share the bookish magic.

After selling his business, Lars Jóhannsson is feeling lost. A job at Bay Books would give him the space he needs to contemplate his next move, but returning would mean confronting a painful past he's been avoiding. He’s also fairly sure he’s the one person Lily would never want to see again.

Lily is torn. Lars could be the perfect fit for Bay Books, but he once rejected her friendship and the hurt still lingers. But working together, Lily discovers a vulnerability that Lars has kept hidden away, along with a few surprising secrets. And as the Christmas season sprinkles its magic, Lily discovers the warmth of renewed friendship and the joy of heartwarming traditions from Lars’s Icelandic roots.

Review: I knew from the minute I saw the title of Jessica Redland’s latest book that she was taking readers back to the North Yorkshire seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, the setting for many of her earlier novels that I have read and enjoyed. I was excited to return to the cobbled street with its independent shops selling a range of goods from handmade chocolates to wedding dresses, many of which have been the focus of one of Jessica’s books. I love the book’s bright Christmassy cover as well; a sign of a truly festive story within.

This story features Bay Books, owned and run jointly by Lily Appleton and her father, Marcus. When Marcus has to take some time off for an operation in the run up to Christmas, their busiest time of year, Lily has to find somebody to fill in for him. Of all the applicants for the job, Lars Jóhannsson stands out as the most suitable. However, Lily is unsure about employing Lars as they have an unfortunate past history and he is afraid that the bookshop will stir up distressing memories for him. When they start working together in the shop, Lily discovers that Lars is not the person she remembers but a far more likeable and sensitive person altogether. He eventually opens up to her about his family history, explaining his treatment of her many years ago. She is fascinated by his tales of Christmas traditions in his father’s native Iceland and recognises their potential for utilisation in the bookshop. Most surprising of all is the secret that Lars has been keeping from everyone in the town for years.

I absolutely loved being taken back to Whitsborough Bay and reconnecting with some familiar faces and places in this wintry book. Bay Books sounds such a marvellous bookshop, crammed to the rafters almost literally with books on every topic and with the kind of customer service that I love to encounter when shopping. Lily and Marcus have built up a wonderful team. The shop is so well described by the author that I could almost smell that aroma you get when walking into a bookshop. From the start, I took to Lily and hoped she and Lars would be able to get past what had happened in earlier years. I was happy that they not only worked well together, but that they formed a friendship and more. I very much enjoyed learning a bit about Icelandic customs connected with Christmas and books in particular. This would make a great book for reading on a cold winter’s day in front of a warm fire.

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Guest Review: So This is Christmas by Helen Rolfe

Care assistant Sophie loves the holidays, and nothing makes her feel more festive than helping 82-year-old resident Bea keep in touch with her old friend Greta. In their Christmas letters, the women update each other on their lives – Bea’s in the quiet residential home in London, Greta’s in the heart of Vienna and the grand Wynter Hotel.

But everything changes when Bea passes away before Sophie’s had a chance to post this year’s letter. Devastated, Sophie struggles to imagine this Christmas without her dear friend. But then Sophie finds one last note from Bea – and this time, it’s not addressed to Greta. It’s to Sophie, telling her to go to Austria.

Which is how Sophie finds herself in Vienna at Christmas, with the snow falling, and an important delivery to make… But when Sophie reaches the Wynter Hotel, there are surprises in store, and before she returns to England, her life will have changed in ways she could never have imagined…

Review: I have read quite a few excellent Christmas stories penned by Helen Rolfe, and was pleased to find that her latest book is my first Christmas novel of the season. Most of the action takes place in the wonderful setting of a snowy Vienna. I listened to the audio version of the book and found myself expertly transported into the world of its characters by the talented narrator.

This story begins in London, where elderly Bea is living in a care home and being well looked after by care assistant Sophie. Bea has been corresponding for years with her friend Greta, who now lives in Vienna, each looking forward in particular to their friend’s Christmas letter. Due to her failing eyesight, Bea has asked Sophie to write her latest letter, but sadly dies before it can even be posted. Bea has been suggesting to Sophie for years that she should visit Vienna, so she decides to take the letter to Greta and break the news of her friend’s passing in person. Once in Vienna, Sophie meets up with Greta’s family and falls in love with the city and its Christmas traditions. However, as time passes, she unexpectedly uncovers a secret connection with one of the family, linked with a tragic event in her past.

I absolutely adored this heart-warming festive book. In addition to all the Christmassy elements, which of course I loved, there is a powerful story with elements of a friendship spanning years as well as countries, a tragedy that has had long lasting effects on many people, the strength of family ties and the kindness of strangers; there is even a hint of romance. The setting in Vienna was really well described and had me wanting to spend Christmas there myself so I could witness in person all the sights and sounds of the city. The characters in the story were varied, but all strong with their own stories. I was totally surprised by the secret that was revealed to Sophie and which had so many ramifications. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone wishing to get into the Christmas spirit or wanting to pass it on to others.

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