Bella is living her best life in Wynbridge, with her beloved Spaniel, Tink. She’s found a way to keep the house she inherited from her grandparents while expanding her dream business – Away With the Fairies – and she’s ecstatic that Christmas is on the horizon!
In fact, everything is perfect until family friend, Catherine Connelly asks Bella if she’d be willing to rent part of the house to freelance author, Jude who is researching the history of the Connelly Clan and Wynthorpe Hall ahead of turning his findings into a book. The plan had been for Jude to stay at the hall, but he can’t cope with the chaos and Bella reluctantly agrees to open her door to him.
Initially, the pair clash but then friendlier feelings begin to grow and Bella finds herself wondering if Jude could become more than just another guest before it’s time for him to leave. That is, until he announces he has no time for Christmas!
With her favourite time of the year suddenly in jeopardy, will Bella ever feel like she’s home for Christmas?
What did I think?
It's not Christmas without a Heidi Swain novel to read and Home For Christmas is fabulously festive and hugely entertaining. The joy of Heidi Swain novels is that new fans can pick up any of her books and enjoy them but for anyone who has read Heidi's books before you will recognise some characters and welcome them like old friends.
The quaint fictional village of Wynbridge is the setting for this book, as it has been for several other standalone novels, and I've virtually visited so often I feel like I almost know my way around this picturesque little village. This is Bella's story and it's a bit of an understatement to say that Bella loves Christmas.
Bella's plans for Christmas this year are thwarted when she agrees to take in a temporary lodger, Jude, who is writing a book on Wynthorpe Hall. Not only does Bella have to move all her stuff to the upstairs flat, but Jude doesn't even seem grateful and then he says he doesn't like Christmas. You can just imagine Bella's horror!
People can have very valid reasons for disliking the most wonderful time of the year so I think it's always important to be sensitive around such matters and it's good to see that Bella doesn't force the issue with Jude. I adored Bella's enthusiasm for Christmas and pretty much any festivity where she has the excuse to dress up both herself and her dog Tink.
As time goes on, Jude starts to defrost and Bella realises she has feelings for him but she's so intent on not getting her heart broken that she doesn't grab on to the wonderful chance of love that is right in front of her. Can Jude change Bella's mind about love and can Bella change Jude's mind about Christmas? You'll just have to read the book to find out!
Home For Christmas is an absolutely lovely book that is fabulously festive and incredibly romantic. I simply adored it and I plan to read it again when the lights on my Christmas tree are twinkling. Heidi Swain puts the 'Happy' in 'Happy Christmas' and can melt even the frostiest heart with this wonderfully heartwarming book. Very highly recommended - make sure you put this one on your Christmas list!
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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