A Country Christmas

Honeycote #1

by Veronica Henry

The Liddiards have lived at Honeycote House for generations. But all that might be about to change ...

Rakishly charming Mickey Liddiard has several problems. Unbeknownst to his angelic wife Lucy, his family-run business, Honeycote brewery - the mainstay of picturesque Honeycote - is up to its beer-bottle neck in debt. His drinking is getting out of control. His affair with local millionaire's wife Kay is more about peace-keeping than passion. And for each of Mickey's misdemeanours there is a knife being sharpened. Ambition, greed and good old-fashioned revenge all conspire to bring about his downfall - but will true love save the day?

Genres: Christmas, Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, British Literature

459 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Veronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book published previously as Honeycote, the first of a trilogy, now retitled as the festive A Country Christmas. It is set in the fictional Cotswold village of Honeycote where the Liddiard family reside where the festive season is about to be a dramatic affair teeming with family drama. The charming Mickey is married to Lucy, who is busily preparing the festive dinner and planning who will be there. They have three children, Patrick, Georgia and Sophie. James is Mickey's brother, secretly in love with and obsessed with Lucy, so much so that he has never married. However, under the facade of happy families lie a multitude of problems. Mickey runs the small family brewery facing severe financial difficulties and the prospect of repossession by the bank which no-one yet is aware of. His life is further complicated by his affair with Kay, who with her husband, Laurence, runs the garden nursery. As secrets and lies explode within the family, the events that follow have deep repercussions for every member of the Liddiard family. This is a warm hearted, entertaining read that is perfect for the festive period. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

[Sandy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I disliked the characters, especially Mickey, but gradually Lucy and her children became loveable. The story focuses on the Liddiard family and the family business a brewery, Honeycote Ales and their attached pubs which is struggling due to ineffective marketing and mismanagement by Mickey. It's set at Christmas and is a fluffy, yet enchanting Christmas read full of second chances. Lovely escapism for this chicklit love story. Full of warmth, joy, and is an indulgent treat of a book. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Judith van Wijk · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really did not like 90% of the people in this book. They were all manipulative or way too naïve.

[Ieva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Biju lasījusi šīs autores "How to Find Love in a Bookshop", kas man ļoti patika un likās, ka, pareizi ekranizējot, sanāktu laba romatiskā Holivudas filma, tāpēc Grāmatu kluba mēnesim par ēdieniem grāmatu nosaukumos ar prieku izraudzījos "Medus māju". Ak vai!!!!! Nu te ekranizācijā sanāktu vien pornofilma, jo otrajam nosaukumam noteikti ir jābūt nevis "A Country Christmas" kā vēlākos tās izdevumos angliski, bet "Visi pārguļ ar visiem" (nu labi, tā vecmodīga grāmata un iespējamās kombinācijas ir tikai pretējo dzimumu pāros, tā ka ne ar gluži visiem). Zemākais grāmatas punkts ir kad acīmredzot par pārāko komplimentu, cik skaita meitene kļūs pēc pārvērtībām , autore uzskata aprakstīt, ka brālis viņu sākumā neatpazīst un viņam piemetas "stīvais" no skatiena vien (paldies, ka arī šādas pāru kombinācijas tālāk gan netika izvērstas). Un būtu tās ainas vēl labi lasāmas! Bet nez kāpēc vīriešu locekļu aprakasti likās garāki par pašu procesu. Tagad prātoju, kas man kaiš, ka tomēr pabeidzu lasīt, jo galvenajam uzdevumam jau ir arī citas grāmatas... Apsvēru ielikt otru zvaigzni, ja jau kaut kas lika pabeigt, bet nolēmu palikt pie zvaigžņu aprakstā paustā -2 būtu, ka ir OK, bet nav taču.

[Adele · Rating 1 out of 5]

sorry book but you will not make it back on the flight home

[Winter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I simply couldn’t finish this book it was that bad. Almost all of the characters were awful people. The successful career women were portrayed as flawed, in a negative light like there was something wrong with them. The Liddiards didn’t deserve all the praise and admiration from everyone around as they were quite dysfunctional. Lucy, the long suffering wife was made to be some paradigm of feminity forgiving her husband all his indiscretions with no self respect. The way the men spoke to women was just appalling; patronising, dismissive. It’s like something out of Jilly Cooper but minus all the fun. I found myself getting progressively angry with the plot. The writing style is the only saving grace of this book.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this in audio format. Although Honeycote was shelved as chic lit I would describe it as a family drama.

Mickey Liddiard runs a family brewery which is facing financial difficulties. Mickey is married to Lucy who is blissfully unaware of his financial problems. She is also not aware that Mickey is having an affair with Kay who runs a garden nursery with her husband Laurence.

Mickey's brother James is secretly in love with Lucy, he is not married because he compares every woman he meets to Lucy. Mickey breaks up with Lucy to concentrate on his business. Later she finds out she is pregnant but whose the daddy? When Lucy finds out she turns to James and they have a one night stand. Will Mickey be able to save his business and his marriage?

I really enjoyed this book although it took.time.to remember all the characters. I was pleased to find it was the first book in a trilogy. However I was disappointed to find Veronica's second novel 'Making Hay' is not available on Kindle until next year. I have bought the third book in the series A Family Affair. I look forward to reading more from Veronica Henry in the future

[Julie Nilsson]

0 stjärnor. Slutade läsa vid s.24. Ingen julkänsla. För många karaktärer och alla verkar vara destruktiva på något sätt. Språket är för överdrivet med alldeles för långa meningar och ”utsvävningar” i tankegången/beskrivningen. ”Kom till saken”-känsla. Skulle ej rekommendera denna. Dock är omslaget fint så jag sparar boken som dekoration!

[Nicola Clough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my first read by this author and always loved her books so was looking forward to this. It was full of fun laughter and families all based in a beautiful country and based around Christmas so a perfect read. Plenty of Christmas cheer. In the beautiful village of Honeycote village it's set to bring more than a few surprises to everyone. Lucy plans the festive lunch for all her dearest and dearest and she has no idea with what is about to unfold many secrets lies along with love and lust. Her husbands Mickey is a flirt and she knows it and his family brewery is seeing better days so can ever sort everyone out or not a good book to settle down to read.

[Linda Louch · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I thought it would be a feel good story about a country Christmas....but the Cotswold village of Honeycote had a few dramas to reveal as the Liddiard family try to save the family brewing business from bankruptcy. A very easy entertaining read with fast paced storylines.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

the front of the book describes it as Romp and Circumstance.
Nothing could be truer. There is a lot of screwing both nice and
not nice. So there is also circumstances to those who fool around and
try to get revenge. Delicious revenge. I loved it.

[Mollie Andrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 from me! I found this one hard to keep up with a cross between other books I’d read lately including ‘Other Women’. There was so many characters, some who I questioned what they were there for? I don’t know, I can’t see myself picking up any more in the series!

[Debbie Dutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a long time to get into it. I liked it but not my favourite

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Veronica Henry's books ☺️

[Helena Wildsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful cosy read - I loved every festive, clever, sweet minute of it and will definitely be reading the others in the series.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a huge cast of characters in this story to get to know, which is rather overwhelming at the start. As a result there are also a fair amount of storylines to try and keep track of, which you may thing would be confusing, but it did work for me. I however to start with didn't feel that strong an affinity with any characters, although as the book developed, I did start to feel sorry for Liddiard family. This is an early book by Veronica Henry and feels quite different to her more recent releases, but it was still an enjoyable story, and I am definitely interested the town of Honeycote, and am looking forward to eventually reading the rest of the trilogy of books set in Honeycote.

[Redfox5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Veronica's 'Making Hay' and had no idea it was part of a series and that this was the first one. I love books like this. Fell in love with all the characters dispite their flaws. The setting was easy to picture, Honeycote sounds like a nice place to live. I'd like to read more of her books.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual story is ok , but this is NOT as advertized, a christmas book ! There are no mince pies or christmas cheer, actually the family have a pretty dismal christmas and doesn’t occur until about half way through the book and is over and done with rather quickly . Disapointed , this will not be going on my Christmas book shelf !

[Ina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a disappointment; the cover is very much misleading. I've abandoned the book after reading a quarter of the story. I despised almost all of the characters, too much sex and questionable thoughts by a few characters. It was my first book by the author; very unlikely that I will read another book by the author.

[Linda O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely brilliant read. The first in a trilogy. Can't wait to read the second book.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas, festive, escapism at its greatest. Feel good fun. Fab

[Kim Normoyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cdnt get passed the first few pages

[Kezia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is so far away from the title. There is barely a Christmas presence in this book, also the mention of Christmas is just so small, I can even count it with my hand.

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a couple of years since I last read a Veronica Henry book, this is one of her older ones and the first in the Honeycote trilogy, in fact it was originally published under the title Honeycote. ( just in case some of you were lulled into thinking you had missed reading one )

Despite the title, it isn't that Christmassy, in fact the season of supposed good will is nearly mentioned.

Instead it is about the Liddiard family, and their family brewery, Honeycote Ales, which is barely surviving, Mickey Liddiard, the current owner, is an incorrigible flirt, and his wife the long suffering Lucy, has literally no idea how close the two are hurtling towards complete disaster.

Secrets, lies, and lust are just a few of the dramas, that play out during the course of the book, and there are an awful lot of characters, to get to know along the way.

It is a pretty fast paced plot, which does make for an entertaining read, I will definitely be reading the next two.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Country Christmas
By Veronica Henry

The Liddiard family have run the brewery in the Cotswold village of Honeycote for many generations. This festive season brings unwelcome news – the brewery is in trouble and the lives of many villagers and the Liddiard family would be affected by this.
However, the news about the brewery will soon be the least of Lucy Liddiards worries. As Lucy plans the perfect Christmas lunch she has absolutely no idea whatsoever of the dram that will unfold around the table on Christmas day which will have repercussions for every member of her family and even those not close to her.
A festive story full of deceit, secrets, love and family all lying prettily packaged up under the Christmas Tree waiting to be unwrapped on Christmas Day.
Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Veronica Henry's 'Honeycote' book cynically republished with a Christmassy cover and title, and the tag line, 'Homemade Mulled Wine, Freshly Baked Mince Pies, and Plenty of Christmas Cheer...'. Well, it's not a Christmas book and there isn't much cheer.
I have a tradition of reading a book set at Christmas over the Christmas period - this was really not a good year. Although the beginning of the book is technically set at Christmas, it's mostly made up of (non-Christmassy) flash backs, and the Christmas festivities only last for about a 10th of the book. Then you're into spring...
If it had been a good book, this might not have mattered, but I disliked nearly all of the characters and didn't find them, or the changes their characters supposedly go through, believable.
I really, really loved Henry's 'The Long Weekend' but this is not in the same league at all.

[Souriisreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea! I got it as a gift and struggled reading it book so I am happy it’s done. Characters felt outdated and so shallow. The never ending babble of their inner thoughts was mostly on repeat so the book could have been much shorter. I really didn’t see any point to the story or got a satisfying closure at the end. What bothered me a lot was the judgement about female characters. Working women who knew what they wanted and went after it, who dressed smart and paid attention to their appearance, were bad. Stay at home wife who enjoyed cooking and hosting, who paid not so much attention to her appearance, was good. And how easy it was for men to be forgiven no matter what they did. I haven’t checked when this book was published first but I guess in 90s as for the reference to posh Spice. If so, the story has not aged well.

[Val Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping for a great Christmas read, but unfortunately this wasn't it.

I have loved all the other Veronica Henry books I've read so far, but despite the great writing, I felt the characters let it down a bit and wondered why all the women were even with their partners. but i didn't really like or engage with them.

An interesting read and I'd be interested to read books two and three in this series.

However don't let this put you off as Veronica is a brilliant author and her most recent book Thirty Days in Paris was probably my top book of 2023!! I think Honeycote, also known as A Country Christmas was her first book.

[Zara Harper · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a load of dribble! Far too many characters to keep up with, none of which were very well defined by ages a etc. The occasional and unnecessary complicated word thrown in for no reason whatsoever considering the rest of the language was plain and simple. And then to top it off... the storyline!!! The hundreds of characters all having sex with each others partners yet everyone got back together and forgot all about the affairs that has been happening?! Seriously?! And to call the book a country Christmas... where was the Christmas?!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story overall but it was very busy with many different characters buzzing around in the background that there was little point to having. While there were many characters there were very few that I liked. The story wasn't all black and white there were quite a few shades of gray thrown in for good measure. I was very surprised by how things turned out, they weren't the same as it had been at the start of the story but the characters were much more forgiving then most are.