What do you think?
Rate this book
The Perfect Christmas Village
When Christmas-hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, he thinks he's found the perfect home, until he discovers that, each year, Holly Cross transforms into the most Christmassy village in the whole country...
Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he's just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas.
Sam's arrival puts Holly Cross's chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things.
But as the festive season looms, maybe there's more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with...
Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he's just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas.
Sam's arrival puts Holly Cross's chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things.
But as the festive season looms, maybe there's more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with...
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
343 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
October 22, 2023
In a Nutshell: An imperfect Christmas story. Could have been really good had the characters behaved better. Not my favourite Bella Osborne work by far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
I admit, I was looking for light fluff when I picked this up. But one really bad habit I have is that even when I read fluff, I can’t let go of my logical side. As such, this book, that seemed intent on punishing the honest guy and supporting the lying girl, wouldn’t win any fairness awards from me.
Sam was clear that he detested Christmas. He was the one Blythe hid the truth from. And yet, he was made out to be the villain (rather, the Grinch) of the story. Why? Not everyone likes (or needs to like) Christmas, and it was totally unfair of them to compel Sam to get involved. If I were in Sam’s position, I would have had a mental breakdown at the annoying intimidation of the villagers. It was strangely ironic to read a Christmas story with no sign of the Christmas spirit.
Moreover, as a small-town holiday story, I expected to find some genuine Christmassy moments in the plot as well. But there’s no sign of carolling or anyone going to church, or doing anything else that’s truly connected to Christmas, except for one scene about a Christmas day family lunch. Instead, the whole story focusses only on those elements of Christmas that even I detest – the over-the-top decorations, the needless competitions to have the best decorated house/village, the frivolous expenses for purchasing huge quantities of non-recyclable décor, the cutting off of live trees, the larger-than-life gifts,… All nothing but crass commercialisation with no connection to the solemnity of the occasion.
Of course, this is only a romcom, so I can’t really expect much on character development and festive accuracy. So let me gauge it as a romcom.
The rom is almost invisible. Sam and Blythe are at loggerheads with each other, until they suddenly aren’t. There’s no mention of attraction, there’s no friendship that slowly warms up to something deeper, there’s no “sparks flew” meet-up. No build-up at all! Basically, it is like a Sophie Kinsella novel, where the idiotic self-centred heroine can do what she wants without any concern for others, and the good guy still falls in love with her. So unfair and unrealistic!
The com is more varied in comparison. There’s situational comedy, double entendre, slapstick, repartee,... I like clever humour so the puns and the dirty jokes were quite funny to me. But the slapstick humour, I could have happily kicked out.
There is a minor mystery in the story, connected to the owner of the house that Sam purchased. This is decently satisfying, though it wasn’t convincing.
The blurb makes this sound like the story of Sam and Blythe’s relationship. But about a fourth of the book is written from the point of view of Blythe’s best friend Vicky, who is a single mom and has her own second-chance romance. I didn’t like this track either, as once again, there was no build-up, and once again, the past involved lies.
What I did like about the story were some of the secondary characters such as Blythe’s mother and stepfather, Vicky’s daughter, and most of all, Tarpin the feral cat.
Basically, there are a few good holiday moments herein, but on the whole, it was a meh experience for me. I’d rather read Jaimie Admans, who does a much better job at handling holiday romances in vivid settings. Holly Cross felt very pale in comparison to the stunning locations Admans envisages in her novels.
All in all, this did most of what it set out to do. If you don’t use your brains too much and are a Sophie Kinsella fan, you might enjoy this as an entertaining light read. Unfortunately for me, I was looking to replicate the great characterisations I saw in this author’s ‘The Promise of Summer’ and ‘The Library’, but that wasn’t to happen. As it was also over-dramatic for my tastes, this might just be a case of right book, wrong reader. Do read the other reviews and get a more balanced opinion before you take a call.
2.5 stars.
My thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Perfect Christmas Village”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Blythe is desperate to sell just one more house this month so that she can set a new record at the real estate firm she works with. So she bends the truth just a teensy bit when she sells a home in the picturesque little town of Holly Cross to city dweller Sam. Sam hates Christmas, so he is unaware that he has purchased a residence in the centre of the most Christmassy village of the country. Needless to say, as Christmas draws near, Sam is the Grinch who might jeopardise Holly Cross’s chances of winning a Christmas village competition. Now Blythe has to do some quick reparations as she is the one to blame.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of Blythe and Vicky – Blythe’s best friend.
I admit, I was looking for light fluff when I picked this up. But one really bad habit I have is that even when I read fluff, I can’t let go of my logical side. As such, this book, that seemed intent on punishing the honest guy and supporting the lying girl, wouldn’t win any fairness awards from me.
Sam was clear that he detested Christmas. He was the one Blythe hid the truth from. And yet, he was made out to be the villain (rather, the Grinch) of the story. Why? Not everyone likes (or needs to like) Christmas, and it was totally unfair of them to compel Sam to get involved. If I were in Sam’s position, I would have had a mental breakdown at the annoying intimidation of the villagers. It was strangely ironic to read a Christmas story with no sign of the Christmas spirit.
Moreover, as a small-town holiday story, I expected to find some genuine Christmassy moments in the plot as well. But there’s no sign of carolling or anyone going to church, or doing anything else that’s truly connected to Christmas, except for one scene about a Christmas day family lunch. Instead, the whole story focusses only on those elements of Christmas that even I detest – the over-the-top decorations, the needless competitions to have the best decorated house/village, the frivolous expenses for purchasing huge quantities of non-recyclable décor, the cutting off of live trees, the larger-than-life gifts,… All nothing but crass commercialisation with no connection to the solemnity of the occasion.
Of course, this is only a romcom, so I can’t really expect much on character development and festive accuracy. So let me gauge it as a romcom.
The rom is almost invisible. Sam and Blythe are at loggerheads with each other, until they suddenly aren’t. There’s no mention of attraction, there’s no friendship that slowly warms up to something deeper, there’s no “sparks flew” meet-up. No build-up at all! Basically, it is like a Sophie Kinsella novel, where the idiotic self-centred heroine can do what she wants without any concern for others, and the good guy still falls in love with her. So unfair and unrealistic!
The com is more varied in comparison. There’s situational comedy, double entendre, slapstick, repartee,... I like clever humour so the puns and the dirty jokes were quite funny to me. But the slapstick humour, I could have happily kicked out.
There is a minor mystery in the story, connected to the owner of the house that Sam purchased. This is decently satisfying, though it wasn’t convincing.
The blurb makes this sound like the story of Sam and Blythe’s relationship. But about a fourth of the book is written from the point of view of Blythe’s best friend Vicky, who is a single mom and has her own second-chance romance. I didn’t like this track either, as once again, there was no build-up, and once again, the past involved lies.
What I did like about the story were some of the secondary characters such as Blythe’s mother and stepfather, Vicky’s daughter, and most of all, Tarpin the feral cat.
Basically, there are a few good holiday moments herein, but on the whole, it was a meh experience for me. I’d rather read Jaimie Admans, who does a much better job at handling holiday romances in vivid settings. Holly Cross felt very pale in comparison to the stunning locations Admans envisages in her novels.
All in all, this did most of what it set out to do. If you don’t use your brains too much and are a Sophie Kinsella fan, you might enjoy this as an entertaining light read. Unfortunately for me, I was looking to replicate the great characterisations I saw in this author’s ‘The Promise of Summer’ and ‘The Library’, but that wasn’t to happen. As it was also over-dramatic for my tastes, this might just be a case of right book, wrong reader. Do read the other reviews and get a more balanced opinion before you take a call.
2.5 stars.
My thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Perfect Christmas Village”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
October 25, 2023
3⭐
Genre ~ Holiday fiction
Setting ~ Holly Cross (fictional) inspired by Eathorpe, Warwickshire
Publication date ~ October 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 344 (40 chapters p+e)
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ dated chapters, small town, slow burn, no steamage
Blythe is a real estate agent in competition with a coworker to make the most sales for the month of May. She has only 2 days to win and she'll do anything she can to make the sale, even if it means lying through her teeth. In steps Sam, who is anti-Christmas, but gets bamboozled into buying a house in the most popular Christmas village in the country.
First of all ~ the cover is cute and I liked the small town community vibe. It is in full force with year round events the residents are expected to participate in. They all seem to get along and have great rapport for the most part, even if they're Christmas crazy. Norman is the local baker and his treats sounded quite delightful, especially a passion fruit curd eclair and I wish I could try one. Phyllis was a hoot and seemed like she'd be fun to be around. 5 year old Eden seemed very mature and well behaved for her age, which I liked. Blythe's mother and step father were pretty great too.
Second of all ~ there is a lot of disrespect in this book.
Blythe, quite frankly, is a lying judgey mcjudgerpants who jumps to conclusions. Sam was pretty much disrespected from the get go by everyone. I felt like he was being bullied and I didn't like it. Someone should not be forced to do something they don't want to do. And even to go so far as to say he has a Christmas phobia and call him a Grinch when they have no clue of his reasoning (which was sad) is rude. He doesn't want to participate, plain and simple. I was really hoping he would put that house on the market and high tail it outta there back to London.
Our second POV comes from Blythe's bff, Vicky, who is a single parent to Eden. I can't say I was a big fan of hers. While I did appreciate her tenacity in providing for her daughter I, also, felt she was somewhat rude. From one business venture to the next, she expects, and doesn't really even ask nicely, her friends to help her, which left a bad taste in my mouth. And why did we get her POV when this is a holiday romance, shouldn't it be from Sam?
Speaking of holiday romance ~ it's very slow burn and I was not feeling their chemistry at all. They're frustrated with each other from May to December, but then all of the sudden they like each other. I wasn't buying it.
We have a side little mystery about the former owner of Sam's cottage, Murray, who passed away. That was an interesting and surprising turn of events, which I didn't hate, but I wish we could have gotten to know him a little more.
Overall, this was a mixed read for me and I don't feel this should be in the romance category, more like holiday fiction. It's perfectly titled too because they did indeed need everything to be perfect.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ Holiday fiction
Setting ~ Holly Cross (fictional) inspired by Eathorpe, Warwickshire
Publication date ~ October 20, 2023
Page Count ~ 344 (40 chapters p+e)
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ dated chapters, small town, slow burn, no steamage
Blythe is a real estate agent in competition with a coworker to make the most sales for the month of May. She has only 2 days to win and she'll do anything she can to make the sale, even if it means lying through her teeth. In steps Sam, who is anti-Christmas, but gets bamboozled into buying a house in the most popular Christmas village in the country.
First of all ~ the cover is cute and I liked the small town community vibe. It is in full force with year round events the residents are expected to participate in. They all seem to get along and have great rapport for the most part, even if they're Christmas crazy. Norman is the local baker and his treats sounded quite delightful, especially a passion fruit curd eclair and I wish I could try one. Phyllis was a hoot and seemed like she'd be fun to be around. 5 year old Eden seemed very mature and well behaved for her age, which I liked. Blythe's mother and step father were pretty great too.
Second of all ~ there is a lot of disrespect in this book.
Blythe, quite frankly, is a lying judgey mcjudgerpants who jumps to conclusions. Sam was pretty much disrespected from the get go by everyone. I felt like he was being bullied and I didn't like it. Someone should not be forced to do something they don't want to do. And even to go so far as to say he has a Christmas phobia and call him a Grinch when they have no clue of his reasoning (which was sad) is rude. He doesn't want to participate, plain and simple. I was really hoping he would put that house on the market and high tail it outta there back to London.
Our second POV comes from Blythe's bff, Vicky, who is a single parent to Eden. I can't say I was a big fan of hers. While I did appreciate her tenacity in providing for her daughter I, also, felt she was somewhat rude. From one business venture to the next, she expects, and doesn't really even ask nicely, her friends to help her, which left a bad taste in my mouth. And why did we get her POV when this is a holiday romance, shouldn't it be from Sam?
Speaking of holiday romance ~ it's very slow burn and I was not feeling their chemistry at all. They're frustrated with each other from May to December, but then all of the sudden they like each other. I wasn't buying it.
We have a side little mystery about the former owner of Sam's cottage, Murray, who passed away. That was an interesting and surprising turn of events, which I didn't hate, but I wish we could have gotten to know him a little more.
Overall, this was a mixed read for me and I don't feel this should be in the romance category, more like holiday fiction. It's perfectly titled too because they did indeed need everything to be perfect.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
October 20, 2023
Happy Publication Day
3.25 Stars
One Liner: An okayish read; got its moments
Blythe doesn’t like it when a fellow agent records more sales than her. She is determined to be the Real Estate Agent of the Month and, in a desperate attempt, manages to sell a house to Sam Ashton (by hiding certain truths). While Sam loves the house, he doesn’t like Christmas.
With the house being the center of the village’s Christmas activity (which they take very, very seriously), things get difficult for Sam and Blythe. Holly Cross Village has a chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village if not for Sam. The responsibility falls on Blythe to fix things. Maybe a Christmas Miracle can help her.
Vicky is a single mother to a five-year-old Eden and Blythe’s best friend. She is trying to manage her boring part-time job and the new business venture. But her happiness is threatened with the news of an ex. Can Christmas bring hope for her?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Blythe and Vicky.
My Thoughts:
Though the official blurb doesn’t mention Vicky anywhere, her story takes up over 30% of the book. She also gets her own POV, which Sam doesn’t.
The story occurs over seven months, starting at the end of May and ending on Boxing Day (December 26th). While this gives enough time for the lead couple to get to know each other and fall in love, the results are mixed.
I do love the setting and the enthusiasm they have for Christmas. There’s quite a lot of competitiveness and almost military-style planning to set up the annual event. The stakes are higher this time due to the contest.
The village has an array of characters to bring enough variety to the setting. They add to the warmth and humor.
Turpin is the highlight of the book. He is a semi-feral cat who wipes to take a swipe at anyone or anything he doesn’t like. All scenes with Turpin are my favorite (and he did save the book).
The premise of Grumpy vs. Sunshine and Grinch vs. Christmas (or something like that) is fun. However, I’m not that convinced by the execution. While Blythe and Sam have a fine banter, I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them for most of the book.
While I understand Blythe’s character (and how her relationship with her father shaped her life), I didn’t like how she kept pushing Sam despite repeatedly telling her he didn’t like Christmas. TBH, if someone sells me a house without revealing important info and expects me to jump into the local madness, I will kick them out and lock the door. There’s a thin line between being persuasive and forcing a relative stranger to do something they don’t want (if the roles were reversed, it’d be called harassment).
In a way, I liked Vicky’s character a little better. She is a single parent with some not-so-good business ideas to make more money for her child. She’s a flawed character but someone who gives good ideas to Blythe. However, her track with Owen is not well-structured. Though it makes some good points, characters cannot move on without acknowledging their past. Important discussions should occur on the page.
Everything ends well, of course. The mystery around Murray is solved, and we get HEA. The ending is stronger, but the path to it is rocky and not as enjoyable as I expected. Furthermore, the pacing is slow and seems to have substantial filler content.
To summarize, The Perfect Christmas Village might have a perfect Christmas at the end but doesn’t manage to inspire the same level of feelings. It’s a decent read but not something I would add to my top seasonal reads.
Thank you, NetGalley and Aria & Aries, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ThePerfectChristmasVillage
3.25 Stars
One Liner: An okayish read; got its moments
Blythe doesn’t like it when a fellow agent records more sales than her. She is determined to be the Real Estate Agent of the Month and, in a desperate attempt, manages to sell a house to Sam Ashton (by hiding certain truths). While Sam loves the house, he doesn’t like Christmas.
With the house being the center of the village’s Christmas activity (which they take very, very seriously), things get difficult for Sam and Blythe. Holly Cross Village has a chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village if not for Sam. The responsibility falls on Blythe to fix things. Maybe a Christmas Miracle can help her.
Vicky is a single mother to a five-year-old Eden and Blythe’s best friend. She is trying to manage her boring part-time job and the new business venture. But her happiness is threatened with the news of an ex. Can Christmas bring hope for her?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Blythe and Vicky.
My Thoughts:
Though the official blurb doesn’t mention Vicky anywhere, her story takes up over 30% of the book. She also gets her own POV, which Sam doesn’t.
The story occurs over seven months, starting at the end of May and ending on Boxing Day (December 26th). While this gives enough time for the lead couple to get to know each other and fall in love, the results are mixed.
I do love the setting and the enthusiasm they have for Christmas. There’s quite a lot of competitiveness and almost military-style planning to set up the annual event. The stakes are higher this time due to the contest.
The village has an array of characters to bring enough variety to the setting. They add to the warmth and humor.
Turpin is the highlight of the book. He is a semi-feral cat who wipes to take a swipe at anyone or anything he doesn’t like. All scenes with Turpin are my favorite (and he did save the book).
The premise of Grumpy vs. Sunshine and Grinch vs. Christmas (or something like that) is fun. However, I’m not that convinced by the execution. While Blythe and Sam have a fine banter, I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them for most of the book.
While I understand Blythe’s character (and how her relationship with her father shaped her life), I didn’t like how she kept pushing Sam despite repeatedly telling her he didn’t like Christmas. TBH, if someone sells me a house without revealing important info and expects me to jump into the local madness, I will kick them out and lock the door. There’s a thin line between being persuasive and forcing a relative stranger to do something they don’t want (if the roles were reversed, it’d be called harassment).
In a way, I liked Vicky’s character a little better. She is a single parent with some not-so-good business ideas to make more money for her child. She’s a flawed character but someone who gives good ideas to Blythe. However, her track with Owen is not well-structured. Though it makes some good points, characters cannot move on without acknowledging their past. Important discussions should occur on the page.
Everything ends well, of course. The mystery around Murray is solved, and we get HEA. The ending is stronger, but the path to it is rocky and not as enjoyable as I expected. Furthermore, the pacing is slow and seems to have substantial filler content.
To summarize, The Perfect Christmas Village might have a perfect Christmas at the end but doesn’t manage to inspire the same level of feelings. It’s a decent read but not something I would add to my top seasonal reads.
Thank you, NetGalley and Aria & Aries, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #ThePerfectChristmasVillage
October 28, 2024
EXCERPT: The office was empty and the street outside was quiet as most people had rushed home to enjoy another glorious summer's evening. But Blythe wasn't joining them. She was stubborn and wasn't going to give up just yet. She checked her phone for the umpteenth time: still no reply from the young couple. The only other vague possibility was Mr Ashton. The client she'd had on her books for almost five months and who had never actually visited any of the properties she had suggested. She was going to give him one last try.
Blythe went through the property portfolio and packaged up the best homes that ticked Mr Ashton's numerous 'must have' boxes and she pressed send on the email. She made herself a coffee, figuring this would give him enough elapsed time before she called him.
She dialled Sam Ashton's number and with each ring her optimism lost another life like a hero dying in a computer game.
'Don't go to voicemail,' she whispered, in the hope the God of property sales was looking kindly on her.
'Sam Ashton.'
Blythe threw up her free hand in delight before focusing hard.
'Hi, Mr Ashton. It's Blythe Littlewood from Happy Homes estate agents. I'm sorry it's late, but -'
He spoke over her. 'Sorry, I'm in the middle of some -'
'That's fine. I don't need your time now but I do need it tomorrow,' she butted in. Keen not to lose her opportunity, she spoke as fast as she could. 'I've just sent you a fabulous selection of our top properties, which all meet your exacting criteria. You're going to be spoiled for choice. So have a look tonight and we'll talk offers tomorrow. I'll come into the office specially.'
ABOUT 'THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: When Christmas-hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, he thinks he's found the perfect home, until he discovers that, each year, Holly Cross transforms into the most Christmassy village in the whole country...
Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he's just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas.
Sam's arrival puts Holly Cross's chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things.
But as the festive season looms, maybe there's more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with...
MY THOUGHTS: I usually enjoy Bella Osborne's books, but The Perfect Christmas Village left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
I really didn't like the main character, Blythe. While she might see herself as an honest estate agent with scruples and a conscience, that's not how she comes across at all. She railroads Sam into buying a house in Christmas-mad Hollycross - the decorations on the houses have to be coordinated - even though he has told her he detests Christmas, without revealing to him that Hollycross is known far and wide as the Christmas Village and that participation is mandatory. She could see no further than winning some award that she has won for goodness knows how many years in a row, but the competition for which is currently being led by another agent. Grow up Blythe!
This story is full of the competitive spirit with none of the joy or spirit of Christmas in evidence. Blythe continually lies to and manipulates Sam without any real thought for his feelings. And it is not just Sam Blythe lies to and belittles - she does it to almost everyone and still comes out on top.
There are a couple of other threads running through the book - a mystery about the previous owner of the cottage Sam purchases and the paternity of Vicky's child. I can't say I enjoyed either of these.
My favorite character was Turpin the feral cat, although he didn't get it right either, attacking Sam rather than Blythe.
Sorry, but I didn't enjoy this at all.
⭐⭐
#ThePerfectChristmasVillage #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: I've been jotting down my stories for as far back as I can remember... well that's not exactly true. I remember writing a story when I was about nine and I was in Mrs Hurran's class. The story was about a thief who stole the crown jewels but then didn't know what to do with them. It went on for pages and pages, in my spiders dance handwriting, so my teacher typed it up and pinned it to the classroom wall. It was a proud day!
Somehow life took over, I got a sensible job and the writing remained a hobby which other people puzzled over and which I adored. Over the years there have been dalliances into poetry, short stories and five unfinished novels. But I decided that 2013 would be the year that was going to change. I joined the Romantic Novelists Association New Writer Scheme which gave me a deadline to chase - a full-length novel had to be completed and submitted for review by 31st August. I beat the deadline by a month!
In my spare time I love to read, cook with my daughter, plan holidays and rehabilitate rescue hedgehogs.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria & Aries for providing a digital ARC of The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I combined reading and listening to The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne. The audiobook was well narrated by Helen Phillips.
The Perfect Christmas Village was published October 20, 2023.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Blythe went through the property portfolio and packaged up the best homes that ticked Mr Ashton's numerous 'must have' boxes and she pressed send on the email. She made herself a coffee, figuring this would give him enough elapsed time before she called him.
She dialled Sam Ashton's number and with each ring her optimism lost another life like a hero dying in a computer game.
'Don't go to voicemail,' she whispered, in the hope the God of property sales was looking kindly on her.
'Sam Ashton.'
Blythe threw up her free hand in delight before focusing hard.
'Hi, Mr Ashton. It's Blythe Littlewood from Happy Homes estate agents. I'm sorry it's late, but -'
He spoke over her. 'Sorry, I'm in the middle of some -'
'That's fine. I don't need your time now but I do need it tomorrow,' she butted in. Keen not to lose her opportunity, she spoke as fast as she could. 'I've just sent you a fabulous selection of our top properties, which all meet your exacting criteria. You're going to be spoiled for choice. So have a look tonight and we'll talk offers tomorrow. I'll come into the office specially.'
ABOUT 'THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: When Christmas-hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, he thinks he's found the perfect home, until he discovers that, each year, Holly Cross transforms into the most Christmassy village in the whole country...
Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he's just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas.
Sam's arrival puts Holly Cross's chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things.
But as the festive season looms, maybe there's more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with...
MY THOUGHTS: I usually enjoy Bella Osborne's books, but The Perfect Christmas Village left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
I really didn't like the main character, Blythe. While she might see herself as an honest estate agent with scruples and a conscience, that's not how she comes across at all. She railroads Sam into buying a house in Christmas-mad Hollycross - the decorations on the houses have to be coordinated - even though he has told her he detests Christmas, without revealing to him that Hollycross is known far and wide as the Christmas Village and that participation is mandatory. She could see no further than winning some award that she has won for goodness knows how many years in a row, but the competition for which is currently being led by another agent. Grow up Blythe!
This story is full of the competitive spirit with none of the joy or spirit of Christmas in evidence. Blythe continually lies to and manipulates Sam without any real thought for his feelings. And it is not just Sam Blythe lies to and belittles - she does it to almost everyone and still comes out on top.
There are a couple of other threads running through the book - a mystery about the previous owner of the cottage Sam purchases and the paternity of Vicky's child. I can't say I enjoyed either of these.
My favorite character was Turpin the feral cat, although he didn't get it right either, attacking Sam rather than Blythe.
Sorry, but I didn't enjoy this at all.
⭐⭐
#ThePerfectChristmasVillage #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: I've been jotting down my stories for as far back as I can remember... well that's not exactly true. I remember writing a story when I was about nine and I was in Mrs Hurran's class. The story was about a thief who stole the crown jewels but then didn't know what to do with them. It went on for pages and pages, in my spiders dance handwriting, so my teacher typed it up and pinned it to the classroom wall. It was a proud day!
Somehow life took over, I got a sensible job and the writing remained a hobby which other people puzzled over and which I adored. Over the years there have been dalliances into poetry, short stories and five unfinished novels. But I decided that 2013 would be the year that was going to change. I joined the Romantic Novelists Association New Writer Scheme which gave me a deadline to chase - a full-length novel had to be completed and submitted for review by 31st August. I beat the deadline by a month!
In my spare time I love to read, cook with my daughter, plan holidays and rehabilitate rescue hedgehogs.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria & Aries for providing a digital ARC of The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I combined reading and listening to The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne. The audiobook was well narrated by Helen Phillips.
The Perfect Christmas Village was published October 20, 2023.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 1, 2023
A lovely Christmas story, you can’t go wrong with a Bella Osborne read to make you feel festive.
This book felt different to a typical Christmas story because it takes place over several months. With summer temperatures, it is difficult to imagine prepping for Christmas decorations, but the residents of Holly Cross think differently. Christmas has put the little village of Holly Cross on the map and the local community take decorating the village incredibly seriously. And it’s expected that any new-comers will jump on board too.
Except that Sam has other ideas. Moving to the area, he is the Grinch personified. It doesn’t matter what Blythe seems to do, Sam resolutely refuses to get involved with the HCCC (that’s Holly Cross Christmas Committee to you and me). The conflict between Blythe and Sam is entertaining; each equally frustrated by the other’s stubbornness to appreciate their love or hate of Christmas is justified. I loved watching these characters battle it out and the cheekiness of the miserable cat, Turpin, added fun to this festive read.
Undoubtedly, this book is all about community. Although the HCCC is quite intense about their Christmas decorations, the fervour they approach this time of year is reflected in the love they have for each other in the community. This is reflected in Blythe’s attempts to integrate Sam into the village, even though her efforts sometimes don’t hit the mark. There is no negativity, nothing malicious in the area and this is what helps to make it such a great Christmas read.
I liked how there were several sub-plots to the story. I was intrigued to read about the mystery behind Murray’s house, the relationship with Blythe and her father, and more about Blythe’s best friend Vicky. Vicky, a very lovable character for her straight-talking. She is struggling to keep her head above water with saving money, being a single mum to Eden and keeping her multiple jobs successful. Vicky was an interesting character and illustrates how not everyone has a perfect life in this warming story.
A great Christmas read full of decorations galore! The final switch on for Holly Cross sounded amazing and reminded me of the wonderful scenes you see in December. A novel filled with community-spirit and Blythe’s best laid plans that don’t always go her way…
With thanks to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book felt different to a typical Christmas story because it takes place over several months. With summer temperatures, it is difficult to imagine prepping for Christmas decorations, but the residents of Holly Cross think differently. Christmas has put the little village of Holly Cross on the map and the local community take decorating the village incredibly seriously. And it’s expected that any new-comers will jump on board too.
Except that Sam has other ideas. Moving to the area, he is the Grinch personified. It doesn’t matter what Blythe seems to do, Sam resolutely refuses to get involved with the HCCC (that’s Holly Cross Christmas Committee to you and me). The conflict between Blythe and Sam is entertaining; each equally frustrated by the other’s stubbornness to appreciate their love or hate of Christmas is justified. I loved watching these characters battle it out and the cheekiness of the miserable cat, Turpin, added fun to this festive read.
Undoubtedly, this book is all about community. Although the HCCC is quite intense about their Christmas decorations, the fervour they approach this time of year is reflected in the love they have for each other in the community. This is reflected in Blythe’s attempts to integrate Sam into the village, even though her efforts sometimes don’t hit the mark. There is no negativity, nothing malicious in the area and this is what helps to make it such a great Christmas read.
I liked how there were several sub-plots to the story. I was intrigued to read about the mystery behind Murray’s house, the relationship with Blythe and her father, and more about Blythe’s best friend Vicky. Vicky, a very lovable character for her straight-talking. She is struggling to keep her head above water with saving money, being a single mum to Eden and keeping her multiple jobs successful. Vicky was an interesting character and illustrates how not everyone has a perfect life in this warming story.
A great Christmas read full of decorations galore! The final switch on for Holly Cross sounded amazing and reminded me of the wonderful scenes you see in December. A novel filled with community-spirit and Blythe’s best laid plans that don’t always go her way…
With thanks to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2024
⭐⭐⭐✨
This was a cute read with a good plot and interesting characters.
Cosy, small town stories make some really good festive reads and The Perfect Christmas Village is no exception.
I liked the characters and the plot, the pacing was also good. It lacked a certain depth that would have made it wholesome, there was potential.
I did think it got a bit over the top at certain points but it's a festive read so I wouldn't expect anything else.
If you are looking for a chilled and fun read, do give it a try.
This was a cute read with a good plot and interesting characters.
Cosy, small town stories make some really good festive reads and The Perfect Christmas Village is no exception.
I liked the characters and the plot, the pacing was also good. It lacked a certain depth that would have made it wholesome, there was potential.
I did think it got a bit over the top at certain points but it's a festive read so I wouldn't expect anything else.
If you are looking for a chilled and fun read, do give it a try.
October 15, 2023
It was like reading a hallmark movie. The little town, with quirky personalities. That always have each other backs.
I loved this town, can I be a part of it pretty please. Oh the inhabitants, you just want to squeeze and love them , And be a part of them. The lovestory it was sweet, but nothing new. I highly recommend this book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
I loved this town, can I be a part of it pretty please. Oh the inhabitants, you just want to squeeze and love them , And be a part of them. The lovestory it was sweet, but nothing new. I highly recommend this book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
October 4, 2023
Another winner from Bella. Such a sweet and funny book, very festive without it being over the top. I enjoyed this very much and hope there is a sequel as I would love to find out what happens next. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 20, 2024
If you love a heartwarming Christmas story, The Perfect Christmas Village is a book for you! 🎄
Bella infused her endearing characters, festive cheer and Christmas magic into my soul. She brings Holly Cross to life like I was standing right there in the middle of the village. As always, Bella weaves entertaining humour throughout the story. I love this about her books!
"She braked hard and her shoes made a wet fart sound. Not quite the statement she wanted to make."
If there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas!
Holly Cross is the most Christmassy Village in the country and Blythe, local real estate agent is just one sale away from being real estate agent of the month. So when city boy Sam comes to Holly Cross looking for the perfect home in the perfect location, Blythe spins the truth to make that sale target and convince Sam to buy the house.
Bella infused her endearing characters, festive cheer and Christmas magic into my soul. She brings Holly Cross to life like I was standing right there in the middle of the village. As always, Bella weaves entertaining humour throughout the story. I love this about her books!
"She braked hard and her shoes made a wet fart sound. Not quite the statement she wanted to make."
If there's one thing Sam loathes, it's Christmas!
Holly Cross is the most Christmassy Village in the country and Blythe, local real estate agent is just one sale away from being real estate agent of the month. So when city boy Sam comes to Holly Cross looking for the perfect home in the perfect location, Blythe spins the truth to make that sale target and convince Sam to buy the house.
October 14, 2023
I absolutely love Bella Osborne’s writing and look forward to each of her books. Her Christmas books give her an opportunity to really flex her comedy skills, and this was no exception. There are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and I had tears rolling at one point.
The village of Holly Cross was charming, and I would love to visit. It reminded me of a town where we stayed in Colorado. Maybe not to the extent of the Christmas decorations, but certainly the strong sense of community. The characters were all perfectly drawn to the point that I could almost feel some of the wonderful hugs that were passed around. However, I’m not going to discuss how delicious Norman’s sausage was!
Blythe is possibly my favourite character from Bella’s writing. Her determination to be the best in her field was at odds with her kindness and willingness to help others. She certainly went out of her way to welcome city boy, Sam to the village.
Sam was slightly more complicated and whilst I ultimately loved him, I had to try a little harder to like him. It was obvious that he had a backstory and I had to wait patiently for his big reveal. Despite this being a romantic comedy, there were some lovely moments that were handled with real empathy. It takes skill to take the reader from raucous laughter to shedding a sentimental tear. Bella Osborne has perfected the technique.
With an impeccable supporting cast, this was a non-stop book that is filled with warmth and the best kind of people. Well, mostly the best, I reserve judgement on Blythe’s Dad. I adored Dick Turpin and if you want to know more about him, you need to read this fabulous book.
The village of Holly Cross was charming, and I would love to visit. It reminded me of a town where we stayed in Colorado. Maybe not to the extent of the Christmas decorations, but certainly the strong sense of community. The characters were all perfectly drawn to the point that I could almost feel some of the wonderful hugs that were passed around. However, I’m not going to discuss how delicious Norman’s sausage was!
Blythe is possibly my favourite character from Bella’s writing. Her determination to be the best in her field was at odds with her kindness and willingness to help others. She certainly went out of her way to welcome city boy, Sam to the village.
Sam was slightly more complicated and whilst I ultimately loved him, I had to try a little harder to like him. It was obvious that he had a backstory and I had to wait patiently for his big reveal. Despite this being a romantic comedy, there were some lovely moments that were handled with real empathy. It takes skill to take the reader from raucous laughter to shedding a sentimental tear. Bella Osborne has perfected the technique.
With an impeccable supporting cast, this was a non-stop book that is filled with warmth and the best kind of people. Well, mostly the best, I reserve judgement on Blythe’s Dad. I adored Dick Turpin and if you want to know more about him, you need to read this fabulous book.
October 23, 2023
Blythe is an estate agent who lives in Holly Cross, a small little village that wants to be known as the most amazing Christmas village ever. When Blythe sells Sam, who unbeknownst to everyone, is kind of a Grinch, the house at the center of the village’s display, Blythe takes it upon herself to befriend Sam and turn him into a Christmas loving villager filled with holiday spirit like the rest of them. How the village and Sam learn to understand each other as they go through the course of the year and the holidays approach was really heartwarming.
There’s also a side story which contains a bit of a mystery that turns out quite well but my favorite part was the semi feral cat, Turpin, who quickly makes himself at home in Sam’s house. And as Blythe comes to help Sam deal with Turpin as well as get him to take part in various events in the village and they spend more time together, they start to develop feelings beyond friendship. Some fun support characters and lots of holiday vibes make this a fun little escape for a few hours and I could totally see it being made into a Hallmark movie.
Thanks to Aria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
There’s also a side story which contains a bit of a mystery that turns out quite well but my favorite part was the semi feral cat, Turpin, who quickly makes himself at home in Sam’s house. And as Blythe comes to help Sam deal with Turpin as well as get him to take part in various events in the village and they spend more time together, they start to develop feelings beyond friendship. Some fun support characters and lots of holiday vibes make this a fun little escape for a few hours and I could totally see it being made into a Hallmark movie.
Thanks to Aria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
December 9, 2023
There isn’t much better than a cosy Christmas romance this time of year, especially one that is definitely about Christmas! Holly Cross is known as Christmas village as they go full out for Christmas with the community as the focal point.
Get ready for all of the festive build up, from Halloween, fireworks night and then of course Christmas itself! This is a charming book that has a really strong community vibe, there are also close friendships, family ties, workplace dramas, and of course relationship dramas!
I really liked seeing all of the characters develop along the course of this book, you really start to feel for them, I think Vicky was such a strong character for me despite her not being the MC and I loved her festive Pom Poms - I’m actually going to try and make some myself although I don’t think I’ll get quite as many made as she did!!
Get ready for all of the festive build up, from Halloween, fireworks night and then of course Christmas itself! This is a charming book that has a really strong community vibe, there are also close friendships, family ties, workplace dramas, and of course relationship dramas!
I really liked seeing all of the characters develop along the course of this book, you really start to feel for them, I think Vicky was such a strong character for me despite her not being the MC and I loved her festive Pom Poms - I’m actually going to try and make some myself although I don’t think I’ll get quite as many made as she did!!
October 13, 2023
Review
I love Bella's writing and have read a lot of her books. This story was a lovely, festive, easy read that eases you into Christmas.
Blythe is a warm Christmas loving character who is at her happiest helping others so when she meets Christmas loathing Sam, sparks inevitably fly.
I love small village books that involve community spirit and this book was just that. I'm excited to read more of Bella's books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Bella's writing and have read a lot of her books. This story was a lovely, festive, easy read that eases you into Christmas.
Blythe is a warm Christmas loving character who is at her happiest helping others so when she meets Christmas loathing Sam, sparks inevitably fly.
I love small village books that involve community spirit and this book was just that. I'm excited to read more of Bella's books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 24, 2024
A cute cover and a really cute theme and idea but just didn't connect with me.
I really liked the idea of this town that goes all out for Christmas, but I struggled to connect with Blythe. I thought the work competition felt dated and silly (and uncomfortable). There were a few cute moments but I struggled to find the humor.
I wish I'd liked this one more.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I really liked the idea of this town that goes all out for Christmas, but I struggled to connect with Blythe. I thought the work competition felt dated and silly (and uncomfortable). There were a few cute moments but I struggled to find the humor.
I wish I'd liked this one more.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 27, 2023
I received a free copy of, The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was enjoying reading about Blythe, Eden, Sam, and the other until the Donald Trump comment, there is no need for politics in a Christmas book, the book did nothing for me after that, what a let down.
December 12, 2023
There isn’t much better than a cosy Christmas romance this time of year, especially one that is definitely about Christmas! Holly Cross is known as Christmas village as they go full out for Christmas with the community as the focal point.
Get ready for all of the festive build up, from Halloween, fireworks night and then of course Christmas itself! This is a charming book that has a really strong community vibe, there are also close friendships, family ties, workplace dramas, and of course relationship dramas!
I really liked seeing all of the characters develop along the course of this book, you really start to feel for them, I think Vicky was such a strong character for me despite her not being the MC and I loved her festive Pom Poms - I’m actually going to try and make some myself although I don’t think I’ll get quite as many made as she did!!
Get ready for all of the festive build up, from Halloween, fireworks night and then of course Christmas itself! This is a charming book that has a really strong community vibe, there are also close friendships, family ties, workplace dramas, and of course relationship dramas!
I really liked seeing all of the characters develop along the course of this book, you really start to feel for them, I think Vicky was such a strong character for me despite her not being the MC and I loved her festive Pom Poms - I’m actually going to try and make some myself although I don’t think I’ll get quite as many made as she did!!
December 14, 2025
I enjoyed this one, but the second half of the book was far better than the first half. The first half is not really about Christmas at all (takes place from May till Halloween) and I feel like it could’ve been half the length and still served its purpose. I liked that the story was quite original and that it was more of a Christmas novel about a village and its residents with a bit of clean romance (getting more into the romance towards the end of the book) than it being a romantic novel with a bit of background story.
December 19, 2023
Got to 38% and dnf what a truly silly book a newcomer to a village being bullied because he doesn’t want to join in with things then being interrogated about the cottages former owner I’d have told them to mind their business and if I did not want to join in with them that’s my choice as well sorry but I expect much better from this author
July 11, 2023
"The Perfect Christmas Village" by Bella Osborne is a delightful holiday romance that captures the spirit of Christmas in a charming and heartwarming way. Set in the idyllic village of Holly Cross, the story revolves around Sam, a Christmas-hating city boy, who unwittingly finds himself in the midst of the most Christmassy village in the country.
The plot takes off when Blythe, an ambitious real estate agent, sells Sam a cottage without disclosing the village's transformation into a Christmas wonderland every year. This sets the stage for a clash between Sam's dislike for Christmas and the village's fervent love for the holiday season. As Holly Cross vies for the title of Britain's Most Christmassy Village, Sam becomes an unexpected obstacle, leading to the villagers rallying against him.
The author skillfully weaves together a cast of endearing characters, each with their own quirks and secrets. Sam's disdain for Christmas is juxtaposed against the villagers' infectious enthusiasm, creating an engaging conflict that keeps the reader invested. The interactions between Sam and Blythe add a touch of romance and tension, as Blythe finds herself torn between her job and her growing feelings for Sam.
Osborne's writing style is warm and inviting, immersing readers in the cozy atmosphere of Holly Cross. The vivid descriptions of the village's Christmas decorations, bustling markets, and festive events evoke a sense of holiday magic. The author effortlessly captures the essence of small-town charm and community spirit, making the village of Holly Cross come alive.
As the story unfolds, Sam's perspective begins to shift, and he discovers that there is more to Christmas than he initially believed. Through heartwarming moments and unexpected connections, he slowly starts to embrace the joy and togetherness that the holiday brings. The evolution of Sam's character is well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for his personal transformation.
"The Perfect Christmas Village" is a delightful holiday read that combines romance, humor, and the enchantment of Christmas. Bella Osborne's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this book an ideal choice for those seeking a heartwarming tale to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you're a fan of Christmas or not, this book is sure to leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling long after you've turned the last page
The plot takes off when Blythe, an ambitious real estate agent, sells Sam a cottage without disclosing the village's transformation into a Christmas wonderland every year. This sets the stage for a clash between Sam's dislike for Christmas and the village's fervent love for the holiday season. As Holly Cross vies for the title of Britain's Most Christmassy Village, Sam becomes an unexpected obstacle, leading to the villagers rallying against him.
The author skillfully weaves together a cast of endearing characters, each with their own quirks and secrets. Sam's disdain for Christmas is juxtaposed against the villagers' infectious enthusiasm, creating an engaging conflict that keeps the reader invested. The interactions between Sam and Blythe add a touch of romance and tension, as Blythe finds herself torn between her job and her growing feelings for Sam.
Osborne's writing style is warm and inviting, immersing readers in the cozy atmosphere of Holly Cross. The vivid descriptions of the village's Christmas decorations, bustling markets, and festive events evoke a sense of holiday magic. The author effortlessly captures the essence of small-town charm and community spirit, making the village of Holly Cross come alive.
As the story unfolds, Sam's perspective begins to shift, and he discovers that there is more to Christmas than he initially believed. Through heartwarming moments and unexpected connections, he slowly starts to embrace the joy and togetherness that the holiday brings. The evolution of Sam's character is well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for his personal transformation.
"The Perfect Christmas Village" is a delightful holiday read that combines romance, humor, and the enchantment of Christmas. Bella Osborne's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this book an ideal choice for those seeking a heartwarming tale to get into the holiday spirit. Whether you're a fan of Christmas or not, this book is sure to leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling long after you've turned the last page
October 20, 2023
A pleasant Christmas story based in an adorable festive setting.
I loved how the two opposite characters were drawn together.
I really wanted Blythe to succeed! With her unwavering dedication to work, her friend and the community, you couldn’t help but like her!
Sam was an interesting character, a bit mysterious and aloof, it was fun to see him deal with the wayward cat Turpin ( great name!) and to eventually fit in more with the community.
Some unexpected twists added another element to the story and meant it was quite the page turner!
I loved how the two opposite characters were drawn together.
I really wanted Blythe to succeed! With her unwavering dedication to work, her friend and the community, you couldn’t help but like her!
Sam was an interesting character, a bit mysterious and aloof, it was fun to see him deal with the wayward cat Turpin ( great name!) and to eventually fit in more with the community.
Some unexpected twists added another element to the story and meant it was quite the page turner!
December 30, 2023
Perfectly lovely rom-com Christmas story.
October 22, 2024
I surprised myself but I LOVED THIS! I like a rom com/Christmas film but usually struggle with the books as I don’t find they hook me in. This was a feel good read, filled with festivities and I loved the perspective that it flitted from one character to the other throughout the chapters rather than the whole chapter on one characters perspective then changing. I’ll be reading more of this author ❤️
November 25, 2024
Such a cute Christmas read. Perfect way to start the festive season. A collection of likable characters in a pretty setting. I want to live in Holly Cross!
December 4, 2023
The Perfect Christmas was a fun, festive, Christmas romance with a bit more. It begins in May and continues on until Christmas. Blythe is an estate agent that is trying to set a record for the most sales in a month and needs one more to tie with her obnoxious colleague. She calls Ben, someone she has been working with as a last ditch effort. She sends him some comps and her drives to meet her the next morning to see the places. She ends up selling him a cottage in Holly Cross, the village she is living in. It is known as the most Christmassy village in the whole country, but the problem is that Sam hates Christmas. Blythe works on him for months with each holiday that comes up trying to soften him up to participate in the Christmas challenge. At the same time, they begin to fall for each other. Will this Grinch and the woman who loves Christmas, be able to have a relationship?
This was a fun story. Watching Blythe and Sam deal with the conflict when Sam refuses to participate in the Holly Cross Christmas Celebrations was a hoot. There was some fun banter and then there was dealing with Turpin, the miserable feral cat that lived in Sam's laundry room. As he moved into the house, there were some hilarious situations. This is a book about community in a small village. They all participated to various degrees and knew everyone else's business, at least a lot of it. There are some secrets that are revealed as the story plays out. Sam finally shares why he hates Christmas and it was heartbreaking. Blythe has her own baggage dealing with her father and their relationship, so it seems that maybe these two might never get together. The festivities include decorating houses, Sexy Santa waiters for a fundraising dinner, community concerts and more. This was a fun read that I very much enjoyed.
This was a fun story. Watching Blythe and Sam deal with the conflict when Sam refuses to participate in the Holly Cross Christmas Celebrations was a hoot. There was some fun banter and then there was dealing with Turpin, the miserable feral cat that lived in Sam's laundry room. As he moved into the house, there were some hilarious situations. This is a book about community in a small village. They all participated to various degrees and knew everyone else's business, at least a lot of it. There are some secrets that are revealed as the story plays out. Sam finally shares why he hates Christmas and it was heartbreaking. Blythe has her own baggage dealing with her father and their relationship, so it seems that maybe these two might never get together. The festivities include decorating houses, Sexy Santa waiters for a fundraising dinner, community concerts and more. This was a fun read that I very much enjoyed.
October 9, 2023
Blythe lives in the most Christmassy Christmas Village, at least now that she has had to move back in with her mother and step-father, she does. She is also set to be the best Estate Agent of the year, although when someone else threatens to take the title the final month, Blythe is desperate to sell another house - even if it's to Sam who hates nothing more than Christmas. So much so, he threatens to put theirong standing aim of being the best Christmas Village in jeopardy.
Can Blythe change Sam's mind about Christmas - and about her? Another triumph by Bella Osborne, the queen of the feel good novel.
Can Blythe change Sam's mind about Christmas - and about her? Another triumph by Bella Osborne, the queen of the feel good novel.
October 22, 2023
A quick read but not great. Blythe was rude and did lie to Sam quite a bit just to win a contest. I didn’t blame him at all for wanting nothing to do with her or the crazed villagers. Including Vicky who thinks everyone should do her part time jobs for her so she can collect the money, what? I understand helping out in an emergency but not all the time. She really was just on the lookout for a sugar daddy type I guess. Very uncomfortable.
All the nosy and not charming villagers didn’t help either. If I was Sam I would have run screaming and demanding a refund.
All the nosy and not charming villagers didn’t help either. If I was Sam I would have run screaming and demanding a refund.
January 1, 2024
The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne has the most beautiful festive winter wonderland cover and between that cover you will find the most delightful Christmas read which was entertaining and heartwarming. This is a book to make you happy and feel all festive but alongside the humour (which there was plenty of) there were a few more serious issues to be dealt with as well but everything balanced itself out perfectly. The characters, the setting and all the little Christmas details are just brilliant and it’s not long before you are wishing that you to could visit the village of Holly Cross and enjoy everything that it has to offer. For you soon come to realise that Holly Cross is not only about Christmas but a community that gives people a purpose. It provides a chance to get together and to support one another and create something special that benefits others.
Holly Cross turns into a winter wonderland every year and the village raises money for charity. Everyone always pulls together to make the village the best that it can be and there are a whole host of special and unique characters that work diligently to achieve this. There is Norman, the local baker, two elderly sisters that live in Rock Cottage, Leonora who spearheads the Christmas committee, Sarvan and Jassi from the Highway Inn and the two main characters of the book Blythe and Vicky alongside many more. But this year there is an absence in the village as their dear friend Norman has passed away. They wonder who will buy his cottage and if they will be up for participating in the Perfect Christmas Village Competition which they are determined to win. Plans have been set in motion and in the months leading up to the festive season there is a flurry of activity to transform the village to make it the most Christmassy village in the country.
Blythe is an estate agent who is in a completion with fellow co-worker Amir to secure the most sales every month for a year. By doing so she hopes to gain a promotion from boss Ludo but Blythe is angry when Amir is given the job of office manager and wants to try and out do him. She tries to sell Norman’s cottage even though she doesn’t exactly know who now owns it. A deal is soon struck with a man named Sam who provides props for films and tv series but there is one major stumbling block. Sam detests Christmas with every fibre of his being and that is a huge problem considering the village is about to engage head on with preparations for the Christmas competition.
Sam instantly came across as someone who preferred his own company just wanting peace and quiet and to avoid all things Christmas. He is angry with Blythe that he was apparently hoodwinked when buying the cottage, not being told how big the village goes in for Christmas. How can they win the competition if Sam refuses to decorate the outside of his house? It will be like a black hole amidst the village where every inch of it is adorned with lights, trees and decorations. Blythe has a huge challenge on her hands to make Sam change his mind and in one way I totally understood why she wanted to do this but on the other I thought she was putting unnecessary pressure on Sam as there must have been a very valid reason for the stance that he took and when this is revealed later on in the book you do fully understand but also wish that things could have been different for him.
Blythe in my mind had only her own interests at heart when selling the cottage to Sam, that being the competition in the estate agency office but soon she came to realise there is a more personal, human and emotional side to this deal. She devises a subtle plan to gradually introduce Sam to village life in the hopes that he will take part in the Christmas festival. We read about Halloween, pumpkins, trick or treating and Bonfire Night and admittedly I was wondering at this point when would a more Christmassy feeling develop. But when it did it was full on Christmas and I loved every minute of the madcap exploits and activities that occurred in the village.
There was a Christmas Fayre, Christmas tree auction and a Sexy Santa Auction which was just pure genius and provided plenty of laugh out loud moments and I was thinking god this should be an activity that is run somewhere every year. For despite its simplicity it was a highlight of the Christmas festivities. As the weeks pass by and things between Sam and Blythe thaw a little you could see the tiniest of sparks igniting between the pair but given how much of a polar opposite viewpoint they each have when it comes to Christmas I wondered whether anything could happen at all between them? I didn’t like Blythe at the start simply because of her actions regarding the house sale but as the chapters flew by I really warmed to her and in a way she was trying to right a wrong whilst still doing the best for the village which meant so much to her.
Vicky is the other female protagonist in the story and at times I thought she got too much of a focus as initially she was more like a sidekick to Blythe. But over time she grew on me. She is a single mum to daughter Eden and she works in a candle factory but has set up a dog walking business to try and earn more money as things are quite tight. Herself and Blythe are best friends and they confided an awful lot in each other. But in the lead up to Christmas an ex of hers Owen starts poking his head in her life again which stirs unwanted emotions and memories which she would rather keep buried and just keep moving on with her life. She had loved Owen but she had messed up their relationship and with his reappearance a whole can of worms is once again opened up and she has to battle on knowing that one way or another the truth will have to out at some stage. There is a connection there with him as she had deeply loved him but at the same time she finds him extremely irritating and he definitely was anytime that he featured. Will things resolve themselves for Vicky or has she erected too many barriers around herself for them to be broken down?
The Perfect Christmas Village was a great book that by the time I reached the end I was sad that it was over and I was left with that feeling of wanting more. I’d love to revisit these characters again perhaps to see how they are getting on in the summer but that’s just a wish of mine but in the meantime this is the ideal read to enjoy as you relax over the festive season and it’s definitely one of the Christmas books not to be missed out on this year.
Holly Cross turns into a winter wonderland every year and the village raises money for charity. Everyone always pulls together to make the village the best that it can be and there are a whole host of special and unique characters that work diligently to achieve this. There is Norman, the local baker, two elderly sisters that live in Rock Cottage, Leonora who spearheads the Christmas committee, Sarvan and Jassi from the Highway Inn and the two main characters of the book Blythe and Vicky alongside many more. But this year there is an absence in the village as their dear friend Norman has passed away. They wonder who will buy his cottage and if they will be up for participating in the Perfect Christmas Village Competition which they are determined to win. Plans have been set in motion and in the months leading up to the festive season there is a flurry of activity to transform the village to make it the most Christmassy village in the country.
Blythe is an estate agent who is in a completion with fellow co-worker Amir to secure the most sales every month for a year. By doing so she hopes to gain a promotion from boss Ludo but Blythe is angry when Amir is given the job of office manager and wants to try and out do him. She tries to sell Norman’s cottage even though she doesn’t exactly know who now owns it. A deal is soon struck with a man named Sam who provides props for films and tv series but there is one major stumbling block. Sam detests Christmas with every fibre of his being and that is a huge problem considering the village is about to engage head on with preparations for the Christmas competition.
Sam instantly came across as someone who preferred his own company just wanting peace and quiet and to avoid all things Christmas. He is angry with Blythe that he was apparently hoodwinked when buying the cottage, not being told how big the village goes in for Christmas. How can they win the competition if Sam refuses to decorate the outside of his house? It will be like a black hole amidst the village where every inch of it is adorned with lights, trees and decorations. Blythe has a huge challenge on her hands to make Sam change his mind and in one way I totally understood why she wanted to do this but on the other I thought she was putting unnecessary pressure on Sam as there must have been a very valid reason for the stance that he took and when this is revealed later on in the book you do fully understand but also wish that things could have been different for him.
Blythe in my mind had only her own interests at heart when selling the cottage to Sam, that being the competition in the estate agency office but soon she came to realise there is a more personal, human and emotional side to this deal. She devises a subtle plan to gradually introduce Sam to village life in the hopes that he will take part in the Christmas festival. We read about Halloween, pumpkins, trick or treating and Bonfire Night and admittedly I was wondering at this point when would a more Christmassy feeling develop. But when it did it was full on Christmas and I loved every minute of the madcap exploits and activities that occurred in the village.
There was a Christmas Fayre, Christmas tree auction and a Sexy Santa Auction which was just pure genius and provided plenty of laugh out loud moments and I was thinking god this should be an activity that is run somewhere every year. For despite its simplicity it was a highlight of the Christmas festivities. As the weeks pass by and things between Sam and Blythe thaw a little you could see the tiniest of sparks igniting between the pair but given how much of a polar opposite viewpoint they each have when it comes to Christmas I wondered whether anything could happen at all between them? I didn’t like Blythe at the start simply because of her actions regarding the house sale but as the chapters flew by I really warmed to her and in a way she was trying to right a wrong whilst still doing the best for the village which meant so much to her.
Vicky is the other female protagonist in the story and at times I thought she got too much of a focus as initially she was more like a sidekick to Blythe. But over time she grew on me. She is a single mum to daughter Eden and she works in a candle factory but has set up a dog walking business to try and earn more money as things are quite tight. Herself and Blythe are best friends and they confided an awful lot in each other. But in the lead up to Christmas an ex of hers Owen starts poking his head in her life again which stirs unwanted emotions and memories which she would rather keep buried and just keep moving on with her life. She had loved Owen but she had messed up their relationship and with his reappearance a whole can of worms is once again opened up and she has to battle on knowing that one way or another the truth will have to out at some stage. There is a connection there with him as she had deeply loved him but at the same time she finds him extremely irritating and he definitely was anytime that he featured. Will things resolve themselves for Vicky or has she erected too many barriers around herself for them to be broken down?
The Perfect Christmas Village was a great book that by the time I reached the end I was sad that it was over and I was left with that feeling of wanting more. I’d love to revisit these characters again perhaps to see how they are getting on in the summer but that’s just a wish of mine but in the meantime this is the ideal read to enjoy as you relax over the festive season and it’s definitely one of the Christmas books not to be missed out on this year.
October 20, 2023
With a father involved in the property business who seems to find her a constant disappointment, it means a great deal to Blythe to be recognised as Estate Agent of the Year in the village of Holly Cross – even if it means selling a house that’s not even on the market, and hoping everything can be put right later. The house belonged to her friend Murray, recently passed away – and the (at first) delighted buyer is Sam, who had been a particularly difficult client to please until she showed him the house of his dreams.
The sale works itself out – with a bit of a mystery attached – but Sam, who hates Christmas with a passion, is horrified to find that he’s moved somewhere that’s in contention for the title of the UK’s Most Perfect Christmas Village, with a community for whom success means so much and whose efforts are managed with military precision by the redoubtable Leonora, with firm plans for his house to be the centrepiece of their display that it’s always been. When he absolutely refuses to engage, Blythe doggedly sets about trying to change his mind – with an adopted semi-feral cat (the wonderful Turpin) who needs feeding, she’s a regular visitor, chipping away at his reluctance to join in, their friendship growing as she begins to find that he’s not quite the miserable so-and-so he at first appears to be.
I really must say that I loved everything about this book – that grumpy/sunshine relationship between Blythe and Sam (both of whom turned out to be such likeable characters, with particular issues in their past lives), the community of Holly Cross with its quirky and such wonderfully drawn individuals, the subplot with friend Vicky and her attempts to find a source of extra income while managing a relationship of her own, and all the many activities in the build-up to Christmas that really were absolutely everything I could possibly have wished for. There’s a lot of laughter, the humour so perfectly judged – but there’s plenty of poignancy too, with all the issues really sensitively handled, along with a few elements of mystery and moments of particular drama.
It’s all just so perfectly paced, thoroughly enjoyable, and the warmth of the writing really is exceptional – the whole book felt like the most gorgeous festive hug, and I adored every single moment. This is one I’d urge every lover of Christmas romance to add to their reading list – I promise you won’t be disappointed, and that it’ll delight you in every way. It might be only October, but I found myself buying some new fairy lights and a far-too-large nutcracker ornament today – and it’s all because of Bella Osborne…
The sale works itself out – with a bit of a mystery attached – but Sam, who hates Christmas with a passion, is horrified to find that he’s moved somewhere that’s in contention for the title of the UK’s Most Perfect Christmas Village, with a community for whom success means so much and whose efforts are managed with military precision by the redoubtable Leonora, with firm plans for his house to be the centrepiece of their display that it’s always been. When he absolutely refuses to engage, Blythe doggedly sets about trying to change his mind – with an adopted semi-feral cat (the wonderful Turpin) who needs feeding, she’s a regular visitor, chipping away at his reluctance to join in, their friendship growing as she begins to find that he’s not quite the miserable so-and-so he at first appears to be.
I really must say that I loved everything about this book – that grumpy/sunshine relationship between Blythe and Sam (both of whom turned out to be such likeable characters, with particular issues in their past lives), the community of Holly Cross with its quirky and such wonderfully drawn individuals, the subplot with friend Vicky and her attempts to find a source of extra income while managing a relationship of her own, and all the many activities in the build-up to Christmas that really were absolutely everything I could possibly have wished for. There’s a lot of laughter, the humour so perfectly judged – but there’s plenty of poignancy too, with all the issues really sensitively handled, along with a few elements of mystery and moments of particular drama.
It’s all just so perfectly paced, thoroughly enjoyable, and the warmth of the writing really is exceptional – the whole book felt like the most gorgeous festive hug, and I adored every single moment. This is one I’d urge every lover of Christmas romance to add to their reading list – I promise you won’t be disappointed, and that it’ll delight you in every way. It might be only October, but I found myself buying some new fairy lights and a far-too-large nutcracker ornament today – and it’s all because of Bella Osborne…
October 21, 2023
I always enjoy a Bella Osborne story, they are some of my favourite reads. As I’m a big fan of Christmas as well as Bella’s books this is the best pre-Christmas present I could get and I can you you that when I opened my present there was nothing disappointing inside at all. It was a magical festive read, with some grumpy/sunshine energy and someone who dislikes Christmas (how ?!) being won over by the most Christmassy village and a bit of romance, yeah he was never going to stay a non-fan!
I love Holly Cross, it’s residents, I love how infectious their enjoyment of the Christmas period is, their passion for all things seasonal is so cute I want to go join them. Sam and Blythe’s story is just so lovely, it’s lighthearted abd full of great humour, the witty banter was fabulous. The supporting cast of characters, the community play just as important a part in this story and I love that so much, because who doesn’t love reading about feisty friends and neighbours, wondering and hoping if your favourite supporting character might get their own story one day.
If you’re looking for a book that will entertain you, bring warmth to your heart and very toes, that will bring Christmas alive, then this book is it and you will want to fall into it’s pages and come out ready to decorate your street.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I love Holly Cross, it’s residents, I love how infectious their enjoyment of the Christmas period is, their passion for all things seasonal is so cute I want to go join them. Sam and Blythe’s story is just so lovely, it’s lighthearted abd full of great humour, the witty banter was fabulous. The supporting cast of characters, the community play just as important a part in this story and I love that so much, because who doesn’t love reading about feisty friends and neighbours, wondering and hoping if your favourite supporting character might get their own story one day.
If you’re looking for a book that will entertain you, bring warmth to your heart and very toes, that will bring Christmas alive, then this book is it and you will want to fall into it’s pages and come out ready to decorate your street.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2023
Bella Osborne- The Perfect Christmas Village.
Welcome to Holly Cross. The village that loves Christmas.
Meet Sam. Holly Cross’ newest resident. Sam hates Christmas.
When Sam’s dislike of the festive season meets with disapproval from his neighbours in Holly Cross, it falls to Blythe, the estate agent who sold Sam the house (maybe a little dishonestly) to sort out the situation.
Blythe and Sam both developed into such likeable characters. They’ve both had their fair share of troubles in life, but they may just be exactly what the other needs to heal the wounds of the past.
The other characters in this book are an absolute joy.
From angelic children to sassy cats, Bella Osborne has squeezed them all in. It’s fair to say they fit perfectly and give the story the most wonderful feel of community.
Holly Cross is an idyllic setting. A little village with a big heart.
I am a huge fan of Bella Osborne’s writing. She goes from strength to strength with each new book.
Her quick wit, depth of sensitivity and big heart, radiate from every page.
#ThePerfectChristmasVillage is a festive delight. You will be eased into the Christmas season with this warm hearted romantic comedy.
Well done Bella, you’ve done it again… another cracker!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Netgalley, Rachel’s Random Resources and Aria & Aries fir a digital arc of this title.
Welcome to Holly Cross. The village that loves Christmas.
Meet Sam. Holly Cross’ newest resident. Sam hates Christmas.
When Sam’s dislike of the festive season meets with disapproval from his neighbours in Holly Cross, it falls to Blythe, the estate agent who sold Sam the house (maybe a little dishonestly) to sort out the situation.
Blythe and Sam both developed into such likeable characters. They’ve both had their fair share of troubles in life, but they may just be exactly what the other needs to heal the wounds of the past.
The other characters in this book are an absolute joy.
From angelic children to sassy cats, Bella Osborne has squeezed them all in. It’s fair to say they fit perfectly and give the story the most wonderful feel of community.
Holly Cross is an idyllic setting. A little village with a big heart.
I am a huge fan of Bella Osborne’s writing. She goes from strength to strength with each new book.
Her quick wit, depth of sensitivity and big heart, radiate from every page.
#ThePerfectChristmasVillage is a festive delight. You will be eased into the Christmas season with this warm hearted romantic comedy.
Well done Bella, you’ve done it again… another cracker!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Netgalley, Rachel’s Random Resources and Aria & Aries fir a digital arc of this title.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews