When Paige turns up unannounced at Wynthorpe Hall, she discovers the place she knew when she was growing up has changed beyond all recognition. She’s only planning to stay for a short time, but is quickly pulled into local life.
One night while driving home after delivering library books and shopping to residents she stumbles across an isolated cottage and meets Albert, its elderly and rather grumpy owner. She quickly realises there’s more to Albert than meets the eye and the same can be said for the other man she can’t seem to help running into, handsome but brooding Brodie.
All three of them have a secret and a desire to hide away from the world, but with Christmas on the horizon, is that really the best way to celebrate the season?
My Review
I discovered the pleasure of spending Christmas with a book by Heidi Swain last year. Without being sentimental, Heidi is able to capture the magic of Christmas through the lives of a variety of different people of all ages and backgrounds. Although I have read books based at Wynthorpe Hall before, it is not necessary as you will soon understand the team of people working with Angus and Catherine who work together to maintain their beautiful fenland estate and open it up for festive celebration to the local people each year.
Into this world comes Paige, god-daughter of Angus, who has left her work as an aid-worker in Jordan under a cloud. With her parents out of the country she is happy to return to a family and place she remembers fondly from her childhood. Four of the usual team are away for December so Paige is welcomed to help in the community delivering food and library books to remote houses and housebound residents. After becoming lost she encounters an elderly man, Albert, who desperately needs help but refuses to accept it. Gradually she wears down his resistance and they become friends. Trying to deal with her nightmares, Paige is determined to move on after Christmas, so she has no intention of giving into her feelings for the inscrutable Brodie, another newcomer to the area. She is however grateful to renew her friendship with the mystical Mollie and tentatively begins to draw close to a young mother who has fled a troubled marriage.
If you need a feel-good boost to give you that Christmas cheer, then I can recommend this lovely story.
A Christmas Celebration on Amazon UK
My Review of Snowflakes and Cinnamon Swirls at the Winter Wonderland
Lizanne lost in a good book 