Published By: Bloodhound Books
Pages:
Released On: 19/09/2024
Rachel is struggling. She’s navigating the loss of her best friend, she’s left heartbroken by her ex-boyfriend, and she’s recently been made redundant by her employer. So the impending holiday season is the last thing she wants to think about.
Then her rich sister suggests that Rachel dog-sit her spaniel, Humphrey, in her luxurious country house in a quaint village in Surrey. However, Rachel is soon manipulated into caring for her elderly Grandpa Eric, too. Between managing flight-risk Humphrey and rebellious Grandpa Eric, Rachel uncovers family truths, discovers a secretive west wing . . . and must cook Christmas dinner for an entire village.
Amid the chaos, Rachel meets handsome builder Ben. Working at the house, he’s also no stranger to loss, but is willing to re-enter the dating scene—albeit with a six-year-old daughter in tow. Can Rachel and Ben find their way through grief at this tricky time of year? And when a snowstorm threatens to ruin Christmas for everyone, can Rachel and Humphrey bring the community together?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Christmas, dogs, romance…what more do you want in a book on these dark and rainy summer nights we’ve been having (at time of reading – for all I know, when this review goes live we might be sitting in 30 degree heat or 30″ snow).
There’s something quite naughty about reading a festive book in August, but I am a self-confessed Mrs Claus all year round, and was actually listening to Christmas music whilst writing up this review.
I think this is the first of Lucy’s books for me, which is exciting as I’m always interested in finding new authors, and it’s definitely whetted my appetite for more.
Yes it’s got all that cosy, romantic, happy, beautiful christmassyness I was expecting, but it doesn’t hide away from difficult topics such as death, grief, illness, ageing, secrets, affairs, breakups, secrets etc. and it is this balance that makes it relatable, and makes all the positive things shine just that bit more.
It is so easy to read, I read it in a matter of hours. It just flows off the page and I had a smile on my face from start to finish. I really liked it, it is warm and cosy and funny and just a really uplifting and enjoyable read.
I loved Rachel as a main character, she was so human and relatable and seemed so lovely. She’s gone through some difficult times and she’s grieving, but she still wants to help others, even if they don’t always reciprocate it. And her Granddad was an absolute joy and made me really nostalgic for Christmases with my own Grandparents. And Humphrey the dog was gorgeous. He reminds me of my dog, even though mine isn’t a spaniel like Humphrey is, but given a chance I could imagine he’d be happy to run down the street and go exploring. Although some of the secondary characters are nasty pieces of work and I was getting so worked up about them, almost as if their grudge was with me.
Whilst I enjoyed it immensely as it is, I didn’t even need the family tensions or romance subplots. I would have quite happily read pages and pages and pages just documenting Rachel and her Granddad and Humphrey’s Christmas, they were so compelling and really felt like family.
People often ask why I liked reading these types of happily-ever-after books, because they’re all the same. And I do agree to a point, but that’s what I want, especially at this time of year. My most read genres are probably thriller and fantasy, which I love, obviously, but sometimes I just want a book that’s easy to read, happy, joyful, and one which I know will all end up happy, but it’s the journey to get to that end which I enjoy the most.
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