Christmas at Tillingford Hall: Tillingford Hall, Book 2

by Flora Dunn, Nathalie Buscombe (Narrator)

Charlotte Patcham's dream job running the Bath Physick Garden has turned into a the underfunded garden has become a target for vandals, and her career and her social life are succumbing to mildew.

So why does she hesitate to take the job of Head Gardener at Hampshire's famous Tillingford Hall? Could it be because her lying, thieving, cheating ex, Sebastian Seaton-Smyth, has also returned to work there after he left Tillingford Hall in disgrace?

But when fate pushes Charlie towards Tillingford Hall can she learn to work alongside Seb so they can get everything ready for the public in time for the opening Christmas concert?

And could Steve Silver, the foxy tree surgeon, be the kind of steady man Charlie could take to spend Christmas with her parents, or might Charlie and Seb reignite their sparkle in time?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Christmas, Holiday

Audible Audio

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Amy Flynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first Tillingford book but this was a sad sequel. The storyline doesn't exactly pick up accurately from where the first book ended. This book centers around Alice's friend Charlie and Guy's friend Sebastian. Charlie is simply not a likable character. She is impulsive, immature, easily manipulated, weak. I truly wish the author had focused on her strengths which are her characters of Alice, Guy, and Hattie.

[MaKaylasJoys · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. I dont know what happened, but every single character was unlikeable, even Guy and Alice.

Major eye rolling with the environmental superiority and vegan diet stuff

And also, not a 'Christmas' story.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing to like in this tale. Characters were unlikeable the story boring. Took the whole book for Charlotte to discover her life so far consists of blaming everyone for her life.

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wished I hadn’t spent the time; couldn’t find a thing I liked about this novel.

[Jade Redfern · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was okay, this was a poor follow up. Charlie is just so unlikeable. I can’t get on board with Seb’s redemption either, how can Guy forgive him for sleeping with his mum for years and stealing precious family art. Seb making the decision for her not to see her family for their usual Christmas made me actually angry - how dare he make that call!!! Their relationship just was not it for me. It felt forced to fit the story…

Frustrating how it doesn’t pick up at the end of book one and instead there is an overlap of the books and it makes Alice and Guy unlikeable and they were lovely in book one.

Eco/vegan vibe felt forced and again didn’t really need to happen.

Such a let down from book one….

[Patricia A · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a stuggle to be honest. I kept upping the audiobook speed just to get through it. Probably could have been a DNF.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this a 4, but there were some things that were too difficult to overlook.

The first, and biggest, one is that the characterization and history of established characters are altered to the point of confusion between the first book and this one. the MMC was very specifically characterized and his actions were communicated in real time in the first book, and then the author had to change a lot to make things work in this book. I'd almost recommend reading this one before that one to be able to enjoy the second one better, but it would ruin the first book. IDK how much time there was between writing both books, but this is a glaring issue.

The second biggest issue is what some other reviewers have already mentioned: this book has some unexpected potentially seriously triggering parts (spoilers at bottom of review) that I would have never guessed would be a part of this book based on the blurb, the cover, and having read the first book.

The third issue is that the author has some extremely specific, and heavily judgmental, opinions on alcohol and marijuana. I noticed a bit of this in the first book. She really went full throttle with the stereotypes, but also openly had the original FMC have clearly stated thoughts about being judgemental. It would be easier to overlook if it wasn't on nearly every page, felt like being forced to sit through a high school assembly at multiple points, and was a bit exhausting. I found it distracting and off-putting.

On the whole, I liked this book well enough, but there were some significant detractors.


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TRIGGER WARNINGS (PARTIAL SPOILERS): Domestic violence, homelessness, attempted murder

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible.

Pagan filled pages of a stupid girl who set fire to her boyfriend’s be bus. She is vegan anti automobile anti everything. This should not be called Christmas anything but pagan winter solstice of the unbelievable kind.

[Shelley]

DNF 25%..... Just not the vibe i was looking for x

[Anne Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a toxic friend group & Charlie girl u are 100% the problem

[Chantelle Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8 🌟 (Audible Plus Catalog)

Lots of tough topics in this series that deserve trigger warnings. Ultimately there's a HEA, but damn, it's a rocky road on the way there.

[Ellena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted copy of the book. But an honest review given.

Oh my word! Once I started reading the book at 1pm Saturday afternoon I could not put it down, finished Sunday at 12pm. It got me into such a festive mood thank you Flora! Definitely a Christmasy read in so many ways.

The book has so many elements from book 1 continued and it was so lovely to explore the other characters in more depth. I loved Charlie and her back story and her feisty personality, her loyalty and hard work. I really resonate with her and the feelings of being inadequate trauma from childhood into adulthood. And Seb and his rocky road of life. Two broken souls learning how to co exist together professionally and socially. And Sasha and Alice both people who you’d want at your side through thick and thin.

Flora writes so beautifully and captures you from the first page. I was pre warned about a domestic abuse storyline but reading it from the perspective of someone who went through that situation it was written realistically and so enlightening because you can so clearly see the signs of that unhinged behaviour. How easy it is to be drawn in and how isolated you become.

Life lessons learned and learning how to navigate adulthood and the message of forgiveness I liked. Let it go if you hold onto that mindset of resentment and anger it will fester. Let it go and there is so much understanding and compassion it allows you to move on.

Can’t wait for the next book!

[Corinna · Rating 1 out of 5]

SO MANY things annoyed me about this book. Sooo many! 👎🏼👎🏼

[Amber Willard · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Alexis Metz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Charlie to be very annoying most of the time. The fact that she's practically my age and she still acts like she in her 20s I find very irritating. Especially when it comes to the drugs, Seb's, I don't wanna call them 'mommy issues', but his mommy issues that's not his fault in the least, and the fact that her friends are trying to help her she acts like a petulant child. Hatty is more mature than Charlie. Set can do sooooooooooooo much better then Charlie. I get her family sucks but Seb had a shitty childhood to and had issues but he's more mature than Charlie.

[Angela Pearse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Flora Dunn’s books, and Christmas at Tillingford Hall might be my favourite of them all.

When unconventional Charlotte “Charlie” Patcham is offered the job of Head Gardener, she's tasked with getting Tillingford's grounds ready for the Christmas concert. But sparks fly and emotions simmer hotter than a Le Creuset casserole when Charlie has to work alongside her ex-boyfriend, Sebastian Seaton-Smyth - and she doesn’t trust the man as far as she can throw him. But Sebastian has a few surprises in store for Charlie, which make her think twice about holding a grudge. This is a love story about forgiveness, after all.

From unlikely relationships to unexpected friendships, and moments of pure LOL chaos involving chainsaws, Charlie somehow manages to keep her cool, even when she's at her lowest ebb. As a lighthearted festive romance, Christmas at Tillingford Hall combines emotional drama, rom-com hilarity, and seasonal cheer in such a satisfying way. It even made me misty-eyed at one point, which is quite hard to do!

If you enjoy well-written romances with a healthy dose of British humour, then settle in with a cup of tea and a scone - this book is a joyful Christmas treat.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The setting is charming but wasn’t a fan of the characters.

[Maren Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, one of the stupidest heroines I have ever been subjected to. The story is very convoluted and it does have a happy ending when said heroin finally pulls her head out and really takes a look around her.
No, I didn’t really enjoy it this one and now I’m just glad it’s over

[Hayley Gooding · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christmas at Tillingford Hall follows Charlotte “Charlie” Patcham as she is offered a new opportunity at Tillingford Hall, where plans are underway to restore the gardens and host a Christmas concert. Still uncertain about her career and direction in life, Charlie is pulled back into the orbit of the Hall and into the presence of her ex, Sebastian Seaton-Smyth, whose return forces unresolved history to resurface. The story focuses on career crossroads, old relationships, and complicated emotional ties as winter sets in at Tillingford.

I’m giving this book one star, and that’s only because I can’t give it zero. I listened to it on Audible (just under eight hours) and made it to around the five-and-a-half-hour mark before I had to stop. I was genuinely getting angry listening to it.

To start with, I already disliked Charlie as a character, and this book did absolutely nothing to change that. What made things worse was how the narrative handles her past relationship with Sebastian. This is a man who treated her appallingly, his behaviour in the first book was unjustifiable, yet in this instalment, Charlie is subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) shamed for how she reacted to that treatment. The blame is shifted onto her emotions and responses, while Sebastian’s actions are effectively shrugged off. In 2025, continuing to push this kind of narrative, excusing toxic behaviour and criticising the woman who endured it, is honestly gross.

The timeline also makes very little sense. Without spoiling anything, this book appears to be set before the end of the first novel despite being marketed as a sequel. It doesn’t align properly with where the previous book left off, and that disconnect made the entire story harder to take seriously.

Another major issue for me was Charlie’s attitude toward Alice. Alice gives Charlie everything, a job, a place to live, stability, and yet Charlie spends so much of the book judging her through an endless, unkind inner monologue. There’s a scene where Alice is dressed as Pride and Prejudice with zombies, and Charlie’s commentary about her is so unpleasant it genuinely annoyed me. This is supposed to be her best friend. After all that generosity, the way Charlie thinks about and speaks internally about Alice felt mean-spirited and ungrateful. Who needs enemies when you’ve got a friend like that?

Guy, somehow, is even worse than he was in the first book, and he was already pushing it then. Alice’s behaviour makes sense if you’ve read Summer at Tillingford Hall, but instead of allowing her any grace, the narrative seems determined to judge her at every turn. There’s a particularly infuriating scene at a party where Alice sets a clear boundary with her daughter, Hatty, and Guy completely undermines her in front of everyone. As someone in a blended family myself, that moment made my blood boil. And again, it’s framed as something we’re just supposed to accept as normal behaviour. It really isn’t.

There’s also a conversation between Sebastian’s sister and Charlie that left me stunned, full of misplaced blame and justification that felt careless and deeply uncomfortable.

And finally, for a book with Christmas in the title, it doesn’t feel Christmassy at all. No warmth, no festive atmosphere, no comfort. This was meant to be my Christmas read for the year, and that probably adds to the disappointment, but honestly, even without that expectation, I don’t think it works.

The first book was fine. Not amazing, but readable. This sequel, however, felt disconnected, frustrating, and exhausting. I wouldn’t recommend continuing the series, this was a definitive do-not-finish for me. Save your time and your energy.

[Allison B · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s hard to explain why I’m giving this book and the one previous two stars. I was engaged in both books - clearly enough to read both of them all the way through. Actually, to the point that I couldn’t put this 2nd book down. The author is an excellent writer. She creates a good story arc, her characters have depth and development, the setting is easy to envision, and her descriptions are rich and detailed.

Where both stories go wrong for me, though, is that a significant number of the characters have MAJOR character flaws - drug addiction & abuse, mental health struggles, stunted emotional maturity (especially for characters that are nearing their 40s), clearly abusive and just an awful towards others (Maxine and Silver), and in the case of Sebastian, I feel like in book 1 he is portrayed and acts very differently than he does in book 2. To the point where it feels like he’s two completely different characters.

There are so many red flags in the relationships and interactions of characters that at times i wanted to shake the shoulders of some of the more mature characters and say “Wake the heck up!!! What the heck are you thinking!!! Walk AWAY!!!”

What I can’t tell is if the author thinks the drug addiction and drug use is normal because of how casually it’s written into the storyline of both books. At least in this book, there is some mention of getting help for drug and alcohol use, and wanting to be clean. In the first book, the use of cocaine was so casually mentioned, and children turning up drugs in the house was mostly shrugged off by the main character (although a minor character responded appropriately).

Overall, I’m glad I listened to the books, but would not recommend someone getting them if they weren’t free.

[Write Room · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little holiday novel has the makings of a really charming story and the potential for enough drama and emotional depth to make it memorable. Sadly what stands out are the repeated wildly uneven emotional outbursts that seem completely out of line with the plot combined with extremely juvenile temper tantrums by the main character which also jar the flow and completely destroy suspension of disbelief. It is almost like two or maybe three different people were writing: the person who describes the setting and the tactile experience in a very enjoyable and not over the top way, the person who decides which turn of plot comes next, and then the out-of-control child who inhabits the character when she just loses it. I read a lot and I write as well and it really gives me almost physical pain to see characters go so wrong so fast. It’s like a bumpy boat ride that leaves you feeling kind of seasick. At one point the main character is feeling grumpy and even says if her dog was near enough she would kick it. That felt really wrong to me obviously no need for explanation. This book combined with a recent visit to a large Barnes & Noble just reminds me of that double edge sword we are experiencing now where reading is on the rise and print books are alive and well, and where quality writing is still hit or miss.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This kinda cute romance kinda touches on some serious issues and kinda misses the point. Thank goodness the heroine got away from that manipulative bad guy who assumed control over her time and plans, so she could find true love with the manipulative good guy who assumed control over her time and plans. Pfft.

Oh yeah and, also! Real life manipulative abusive men who fool women by charming them, because they are so good at fooling people and charming them, are also really good at fooling and charming a woman's family and friends, and fooling and charming the mutual employer of themselves and the woman in question. But that would be a different and darker book.

The race and class stuff is worse in Book 2 than it was in Book 1. If a person is a menial labourer or an inner city kid trying to escape the influence of gangs, that person is probably not white. And if a person is not white that person is definitely a labourer or inner city kid.

The class stuff gets stated boldly: “We can’t have you lot going down the drive while the great and the good are coming up it.”

I guess she won't have this lot reading more of this tripe. Too bad. The professions are interesting. The romance is okay. The world view is sucky.

[Alannah Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas at Tillingford Hall is a pleasant seasonal read that continues Flora Dunn’s series with warmth and charm, though it doesn’t quite rise above the ordinary. The novel follows Charlotte Patcham, whose career at the Bath Physick Garden has faltered, leading her to accept a new role as Head Gardener at the grand Tillingford Hall. Her fresh start is complicated by the return of her ex, Sebastian, whose past mistakes still linger in Charlotte’s mind. The setting is atmospheric, with snowy gardens, festive preparations, and the anticipation of a Christmas concert giving the book a cozy backdrop. Charlotte herself is sympathetic, and her professional struggles feel authentic, but the romantic tension unfolds in a predictable way and the pacing sometimes drags. While the story has moments of charm, especially in its depiction of the Hall and its holiday spirit, it doesn’t fully captivate or linger after the final page. For readers who enjoyed Summer at Tillingford Hall, this sequel offers a comfortable return to familiar ground, but it may not stand out as a memorable holiday romance. Three stars: enjoyable enough, but not essential.

[Jeri]

Just a note: audibles top description of this is "clean and wholesome" but there's a lot of talk about drugs and suicide and orgies hahaha
Anyway, it glitched around chapter 21/22 and I'm happy for it. I do want to know what happens to some other characters but the lead needs to look up narcissistic behavior because no fewer than two of her boyfriends (Mr. ProperKiss and Mr. LoveBomb) are textbook and the one I assume she ends up with (Mr. MILF) seems like he's had some struggles but she definitely added to them. Also, is someone really your boyfriend after hooking up on the day you met? Totally fine with consenting adults doing adult things. But she jumps into shacking up with and defending a literal stranger despite three locals telling her he's trash...and it's been DAYS. She's known him for like 3 days and tells her friends and other locals to eff off 😂 Okay, I hope it ends well for whoever. No judgies if you love the book...I understand it's fairly realistic, people do stupid stuff.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the loveliest Christmas Romances I've ever read! What a wonderful way to continue this story! Book number 2 in this series was even better than I ever could have expected. I couldn't put it down! Elements of second chances, taking the time to really get to know someone, forgiveness, things that really make one reflect on how we treat people. Are we always fair? Somehow the messages really resonate at this time of year. Thanks to the author for this ARC copy. This is my honest and candid opinion. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I always tell it as I see it. I loved the genuinely British words and phrases that made me feel as though I were right there at the hall! If you prefer to listen to your books, I highly recommend the narrator, as well, having listened to book 1. She does a wonderful job, too. I can hardly wait to read book#3.

[Andrea Thatcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but sort of felt like some things were “off” about it for me. It’s aggressively hetero. I don’t know what I mean exactly by that, but certainly part of it is the way the main character speaks about desire and also the qualities she looks for in men are not ones I typically appreciate in male love interests. I did not find him compelling. It’s like she came from this sort of free spirited lifestyle and in the end all she wants is convention, but for instance this type of arc was achieved much more successfully with Phoebe in Friends and you certainly have more space for character development in a book. I was also upset that part of the lesson she needed to learn was that she doesn’t need to keep her family’s traditions in order to be an adult. I don’t know, maybe I didn’t like this.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a Fan at all! The first book was okay. The MFC was way too insecure at almost 40 but sweet and likable. Charlotte the almost 40 MFC in this book is also insecure and equally immature. She is bent on Destruction of her life and others despite having a safe good upbringing by having unsavory men and others in her life, bad habits and orgies yes orgies. She is also selfish ungrateful and not a good friend. She is a vegetarian but smokes everything. The plot goes nowhere but I finished it surprisingly. I think
The audio contributed to that as the narrator is good. I like the MCs even the MMC who has every reason to be messed up and he is more decent than Charlotte. The Irony is Charlotte tried to burn up Seb the main male character in the first book but she is supposedly terrified of some obviously blatant ethnic teen girls in this one. I saw what you did there. Not a good book to me.

[Kiesha’s ALWAYS reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one first and I wasn’t that impressed. Overall it was an okay read but really the characters weren’t very like able. Charlotte had A LOT going on and the way abuse was portrayed was a little dense to me 🤷🏾‍♀️ Seb was….odd to say the least.

This book is how I was introduced to Alice and Guy and while I liked them I didn’t care much for the friendship between Alice and Charlotte. There was a moment when someone Charlotte, Alice, and Seb’s sister was talking and Seb’s sister made a really rude ass comment in relation to Alice and Guy being together and her so called best friend has the nerve to freaking agree!!! That pissed me off beyond words ughh!

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow (in a bad way). I was really gritting my teeth to finish this book, and to what end? Respectfully, nothing good came of sticking this out. I'm not even sure if this was supposed to be a romance given that the romance arc was so dull. Not to mention the main character sucked so unbelievably bad to a degree where I genuinely couldn't relate to a single thing she thought. It was truly like being in the head of the most delusional and selfish (yet somehow also dull?) person you've ever met. And why the Pagan cult thing at the beginning???? I'm sorry to the author for this review, but also sorry to myself for reading.

[Ruth Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great instalment in the Tillingham series and an enchanting festive read! It’s a delight how the three novels knit together although they can also be read and enjoyed as standalone books. 

I loved the real, relatable and loveable characters with their quirks and flaws. The romance of a Christmas party  at Tillingford Hall including all the chaos, drama and emotion in the run up to it held me in thrall from the very beginning. The setting is great, the variety of personalities and situations feels real and alive and the happy ending is well deserved for our couple.