Published By: Boldwood
Pages: 242
Released On: 23/08/2022
When Beth Brown loses her job and her boyfriend in the space of twenty-four hours, she thinks life can’t get any worse. That’s until she finds herself in the depths of the English countryside working for chef, Rocco di Castri. Not only does she have to deal with his legendary moods, but she’s also expected to get his chaotic schedule and workload in check, all while she’s nursing a broken heart.
It’s not long before Rocco’s idyllic home starts to work its magic and soon she sees a softer side to her boss too. And as the festive season approaches, Beth dares to look forward to everything the perfect country Christmas has to offer – and perhaps some romance of her own. Until news of an unexpected proposal threatens to put pay to all Beth’s plans. Will Beth get her happily-ever-after? Maybe, this Christmas…
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
The time for festive books has come! Even if I did read this on the hottest day of the year.
The description of Rocco’s “country cottage” sounds to die for. It’s big but cosy and warm, idyllic and the perfect place to host a family Christmas.
I would say this is more a book that happens at Christmas rather than a Christmas book, in that you could pick up the story and place it in any season and it would still work just as well. So, for me I would have liked more festivities, especially as the over of the book just screams Christmas, but that could be because I want more festivities in everything, no matter the time of year. Nothing is ever too much Christmas for me.
This is a rare book in that I had no negative thoughts about any of the characters. I liked them all for different reasons and they worked so well together. Beth and Rocco are gorgeous main characters and you really believe their story and will them along. Pandora is the enigmatic, mysterious foreign beauty who ruffles more than a few feathers. Martin is the ex, but one that really believes you can maintain a friendship after love. Zak is not in it much, but he steals every scene he’s in. And Sylvia is the friend everyone wants, accompanied by hot mince pies and a warming hug.
It is a relatively short book, so there’s no dragging out scenes, you really get stuck in. I read this in a few hours as it’s hard to put down. Even on a hot summers day, it has the power to warm your heart and make everything feel a bit better.
It is mostly a romance, with some comedic elements, so you’ll find yourself smiling and laughing, but you will also find yourself tearing up. It’s a realistic story, not too twee or sappy, not too over the top, it’s not all sunshine and light, but the sad moments help make the happy moments shine a bit brighter.
You can probably guess the outcome quite early on in the book but that does nothing to distract from how beautiful it is. This is the first of Jill Steeple’s books I’ve read but I’ll definitely be looking out for more.
Books By Your Bedside 