A Very Country Christmas

Tippermere #2.5

by Zara Stoneley

A short Christmas story of three courses.

Love is in the air in Tippermere as Lottie dreams of a white Christmas with no trimmings – other than her hot and hunky eventer, Rory. But things are never quite that simple on the Tipping House Estate.

Festive fervour takes over and it isn’t all seasonal peace and goodwill as expectations rise and it soon escalates from cosy dinner for two, to all the trimmings for ten!

With missing turkeys, loose horses, troublesome terriers and randy huntsmen, Lottie is hard pushed to find time for a kiss under the mistletoe, let alone find the opportunity to woo Rory with her sexy Santa costume.

But there is only one thing Lottie really wants for Christmas, and only one man can deliver it…

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Amazon, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, Chick Lit

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2015

About the author

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.

Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Zara’s bestselling novels include 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'.

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨]

This book was difficult for me to identify with and I had no interest in:

* The slang lingo outside my familiarity
* An affinity for horses
* Unnecessary profanity (vulgarity)
* Confusing plot-line
* Too many characters to keep up with*

Also, the innocent-looking cover was the opposite of the content provided.

So off I go to discover a much more interesting literary adventure.

..


..

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Well there goes that book stopping reading immediately! I found the f word in it and that's a no go for me! Such an adorable cover too but the author ruined it for me!"

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic festive read, I hadn’t read anything by this author before but I’ll certainly look out for her stories in future!

Set in the village of Tippermere, the story starts by introducing the characters - both human and animal. It seems they’ve appeared in another novel but not having read that I don’t think spoilt my enjoyment of this in anyway. It has three main sections, divided by events occurring on particular days, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The author is superb at creating easy to relate to characters, even the pets have their own personalities! The story had me giggling, laughing out loud and, upon occasion, with happy tears running down my face.

Charlotte (Lottie) had been planning to have a cosy Christmas Day with her fiancé, Rory, but events and her kind heart have other plans. From a meal a deux the invited guests start growing in number somewhat out of control! With horses escaping and damaging fences, a feisty, opinionated grandmother, some antics that need to be read to be visualised and romance in the air, this is a fantastic feast of a festive read and, to top it all, it is free at the moment! So go treat yourself to this for a cozy Christmas read!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5stars, 1.5 heat

Aw Christmas in the country. A Very Country Christmas was adorable!

The Gist: A quiet Christmas for two suddenly has 8 more people, a ton of food, a herd of dogs and a lot of crazy that Lottie has to wrangle.

I enjoyed Lottie and Rory. She's such a sweetheart. She had planned just a quiet holiday with her fiance but then kept collecting people who needed a bit more Christmas spirit in their lives. She throws herself all in to everything and was just a cute heroine. And Rory. Well he may seem a bit distracted and like he's not paying proper attention to things but he's got a good heart, too, and is very sweet and thoughtful in his own way.

The romance was an ongoing one. They're already engaged, actually. It was more just a continuation of their relationship as they go through a holiday together.

Overall, it was cute. I enjoyed meeting the couple and their crazy friends/family. Sweet to see them all there for Christmas together and enjoying time together. Food, traditions, some funny moments and sweet ones. I enjoyed it and would like to read more from the series.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lottie Brinkley can’t wait to spend Christmas with her fiancée, Rory Steel. A quiet day in front of the television and some time spent in the bedroom is what she has envisioned. She is also hoping to get an engagement ring being as Rory has already proposed and she accepted. Somewhere along the way, things go off track and she ends up with a house full instead. This is part of a series and I have not read any of the other books. Saying this, I did enjoy the story even though I did not have any background. The author has included a guide with all characters’ names and a bit of information at the beginning of the story, which was helpful for me when the characters got a bit confusing. The novella is divided into three separate parts: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which was a nice division. The story flowed well with enough detail considering this was a novella. I did laugh several times, especially when the boy delivering the turkey showed up unexpectedly. ‘A Very Country Christmas’ is a light, feel-good, festive that I enjoyed during the lead up to Christmas.

[Katharina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of character lists at the beginning of books because really, if you can't make me remember your characters, I won't memorise them ahead of reading. Even less so in a short story.
Where the book actually LOST me were the actual descriptions. And it went downhill from there.

[Jane Linfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five twinkly stars for this one. Christmas magic from Tippermere, and a fabulous sparkly festive read. Delicious!

[Suze Prescot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 'bonus ' but again, no complaints. Lottie is planning a quiet Christmas a deux, but the romantic plans are scuppered by escaping horses, needy people and an exhausted fiance. Set in NW England (and featuring a mad late afternoon dash around a familiar supermarket on Christmas Eve which made me feel better about my unreadiness) this has laughs and love and engaging characters. Good fun.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

And then there were more

A Christmas story that takes place in the country side in England. Although the couple had planned a cosy Christmas for two all plans changed

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great feeling to be back in Tippermere, together with all the characters that I grow so fond of - and I don't only mean human characters, oh no! Zara Stoneley is the best specialist in creating brilliant animal characters, and I so missed all the dogs and horses as well! The author delivered a humorous rom - com in the country again, but I haven't expected anything different, and so we're back in Tippermere, the heart and soul of the horsey world of English countryside, that will never change - and thanks god (or Zara) for that! There is more drama and action in this little village than in the biggest metropolis around the world probably.

As in the both previous full - length novels, the voice of the author is what makes the books outstanding. It's light and funny, and the characters don't take themselves so seriously, no, they're making fun of each other and themselves, too. There is a great bunch of character, but after reading previous books you're get used to it, and, in fact, Zara has pared the number of them down this time.
Lottie, as usually, put herself into a lot of troubles, but she's so warm and so good - natured, and I love her. This time she invited all of her relatives and almost half of the town to a Christmas dinner in her and Rory's flat - no idea how, as her plan was to spend Christmas with Rory only. Comfortable, cosy and ȧ deux. But - as usual with Lottie - something went wrong and she really needs to think how to squeeze all the thousand guests that she has invited/have invited themselves. She must also juggle her relationship with Rory, this really tricky relationship, and no matter how much I adore Rory, I've no idea how Lottie manages with this sex - god on a horse.

But you know, this novella has a hidden depth to it, and I liked it very much. This time this hidden depth is in Lottie and her desire to have a home of her own, to settle down with the man that she loves and to live a happy life, surrounded by her family and beloved horses. Those feelings of Lottie, those insecurities she felt regarding Rory, they were so beautifully described, there was really a heart in those descriptions. She desperately wants Rory to put a ring on her finger, even though she makes jokes out of this fact, and she's hoping beyond hope that it happens this Christmas - but, as we all know Rory, everything can happen with him, right? I was guessing how this thread is going to end, and there were moments that I was a little overwhelmed with Lottie repeating her wish over and over again, but oh well, a girl can dream, no? Especially as it's Christmas...

So yes , this short story is full to brims with action and people, and add also some huntsmen to the mix as well, together with horses getting loose and many, many dogs, shopping for the turkey and the whole village being let in on a secret. It is full of humour, brilliant and sharp one - liners, frolics and yes, there is also a festive feeling to it, especially when you read about the above mentioned turkey being wheel - barrowed from one kitchen to the other. It is a very warm read, with a feel - good factor to it, and brilliantly captured and portrayed family relationships. Recommended!

Copy provided by publisher in exchange for a review.

[Lynn Marie Hulsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally pick up novellas, as I'm a full-length fiction kind of reader. I decided to take a chance on this one because I'd been watching Zara Stoneley's country-set horse novels for awhile. I can't say why I never invested in one before now, especially since I love England, I love "worlds" that I know nothing about such as the horsey world of the English countryside, and I love books set around a particular town or location featuring interlocking stories. I am also particularly fond of the goings-on around English country houses, and the heroine of this story is the reluctant future heiress to Tipping House Estate, situated in the town of Tippermare.

I'm grateful that this one was free, because it drew me to download it. The lure paid off. I am now a devoted Stoneley fan. This one was free, but I have already gone back to pay for one of her full-length novels, and plan to read through her list till I'm through.

What did I like about this novella? First and foremost the voice of the author. The tone is light and comic, but the story doesn't lack depth. There is a huge array of characters, and for me, that is part of the fun. The author deftly uses the opinions and secondary stories of the huge cast to stack the deck for and against the goals of the heroine, Lottie Brinkley. I adore a "main girl" who faces challenges and who has a deep emotional life, and who isn't "too dumb to live." Lottie is capable, shrewd, and kind, but she gets herself in hot water early on by inviting half her relatives, and half the town to a Christmas dinner in her very small flat on the estate. Her intention was to spend a cozy day in with her live-in fiance Rory Steel, an amiable horseman who is also a successful eventer.

We watch her manage tricky relationships between her officious, staid grandmother, her widowed father and his new daffy-but-lovable wife, the town's most eligible hot dad and ex-underwear model Tom and his on-the-brink-of-womanhood daughter Tab. We also watch her scramble to organize the perfect dinner with many larger-than-life, and sometimes warring personalities under one tiny roof.

If that sounds like a piece of fluff made for a half-hour sitcom, it's not. On top of her immediate challenges, she deals with having lost her own mother, her desire to build a home and family on her own terms, and insecurities regarding her relationship. I enjoyed going on the journey Lottie took in this short tale, and cannot wait to dig further into the lives of these characters from Tippermare.

If you, like I, enjoy the worlds created by authors such as Trisha Ashley, Alexandra Brown, and Jilly Cooper, you will become a fast fan of Zara Stoneley. I cannot say how pleasantly surprised I am after downloading this story on a whim. Recommended.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book, despite all the horsey references. It was quite a sweet Romcom with a lot of horsey references.

Lottie is looking forward to a Christmas dinner for 2 - just her and the hunky Rory. And if he were to give her an engagement ring for Christmas she would be delighted - as they have been engaged for a while without a ring. However, their cozy dinner for 2, soon escalates to a very squashed dinner for 10, and with the various relationships around the table things soon become very drunken, and very interesting.

[J. Kahele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful

This was a warm and at times very hot read. It was definitely one of those reads where you kicked back with a glass of wine and enjoyed. Perfect holiday mixer!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a great Christmas story!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely Christmas romance with quirky humour thrown in .. Most enjoyable. I have since found a Tree book by this Author, so I am looking forwards to reading that ..

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute short Christmas read and my first by Zara Stoneley. I have to admit this is my first Bristish terminology book and it through me at times. When your Christmas for two goes array and ends up being for 10+ guests, all-in-all it goes very well for Lottie Brinkley, heir to the Tipping House Estate, except for boiling dry the plum pudding at the dismay of her  gran, Lady Elisabeth Stanthorpe. Lottie insists on having Christmas dinner at her place even after her plans for a quiet day alone with her finance takes a huge turn.

You know it's going to be funny or on the brink of disaster when Lottie ends up with 10 guests, some that dispiese each other and three dogs in very cramped quarters. Then there is missing turkeys, loose horses, her aristocratic gran in the same small space as her dad. So much for finding the time for the sexy santa costume she has hiding under the bed. Her financee, Rory, may never get to see it on her, she has turkey with all the trimmings to prepare. Did I mention there is a mansion across the yard not being utilized for the festivities? Go figure but getting an extra large turkey on a platter across a snowy, icy yard up into the loft apartment proves to be a funny challenge. You'll just have to read this book to see if Lottie gets what she really wants for Christmas.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the setting and the characters.

[Natasha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful...

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a funny and cute Christmas story with lots of unexpected goings-on.

[Caroline Goodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very slow but steady read. I felt like I was waiting for something to really happen. But an easy short ish festive read to dip in and out of.

[A Page of Fictional Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be straight up with you here, I am not usually a fan of stories with horses or dogs in, I don't know why because it's not as if I don't like horses or dogs - I do. I was surrounded by dogs when I was young and I adore them.. even the Rotties - especially the Rotties, and I wasn't a stranger to horses growing up in the country although I never rode one. However I actually enjoyed this story. A lot.

At first all the characters seem to bombard you with their names but Zara has kindly put a list of characters and who they are, who they are related to and whether they are human, horse or hound which is rather handy to reference back to if you get a little confused. Once you get into the flow of the story it's actually quite a riveting read.

I felt that I was back in the country with friends at a country estate preparing for christmas. The entire story themes around a newly engaged couple who despite living in a fancy posh house are strapped for cash until Lottie's wedding business starts reaping in the cash. Also, it should be noted that Lottie is still without an engagement ring, and as we ladies can understand, waiting for that lush man in our life to pop the question and present us with a sparkling diamond is every girls dream. Add to that the fact that Lottie somehow offers to cook christmas dinner for not just herself and her fiance (which she hoped would be how they spent christmas) but for 10 people, in her tiny home. That's dramatic enough without adding in randy huntsmen and horses that get loose, and a man you just can't pin down.

From doing the shopping, to cooking the turkey after it is wheelbarrowed across the forecourt into the main house kitchen aga, its fun, frolics and festivity all the way.

If you fancy indulging in a little christmas reading, and wouldn't mind seeing "how the other half live", this book will warm you to the bone and show you that life isn't perfect for anyone, but when you make the effort to be thankful for what you have, and do your best with what you have, sometimes, miracles can happen. And for me, that's the true message of christmas, perfectly captured by Zara.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review first posted on my blog 'A Spoonful of Happy Endings': http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...

Lottie Brinkley can’t wait to spend Christmas with her fiancée, Rory Steel. She already has dreams of a white Christmas, just the two of them in front of the telly with enough Christmas food for days, the house to themselves, and hopefully that one special Christmas present Lottie has secretly been wishing for… But when the merry and kind-hearted spirit of Christmas unexpectedly hits Lottie, she suddenly finds herself inviting all her friends and family for Christmas at her and Rory’s place. Instead of an exclusive dinner for two, Lottie finds herself preparing a festive meal for ten and all of a sudden Christmas at Tippermere isn’t exactly what Lottie expected it to be…

I loved this wonderful festive trip back to Tippermere and once again seeing all these familiar faces! While ‘A Very Country Christmas’ could be read as a stand-alone, I definitely recommend reading it as part of the series, because it provides you with that extra bit of background information that makes this story even better than it already is. The author has included a guide with all characters’ names and a bit of information at the beginning of the story, which is really helpful to refresh your memory or help you when all these characters get a bit too much. I loved the fact that almost all familiar Tippermere faces make an appearance in this Christmas novella and I had a big smile on my face throughout.

The novella is divided into three separate parts: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which was a nice division. Zara Stoneley’s writing style is great; it flows well, provides enough detail, and made me laugh several times. I personally know nothing about horses and am also not a particularly big fan, but Zara has made me fall in love with Tippermere and its characters (also the great animals, mainly dogs and horses) and I can only hope we will be treated to another part in 2016! ‘A Very Country Christmas’ is a light, feel-good, festive read that is definitely worth picking up this Christmas; I loved it!

[Jennifer Ricketts (Donnie Darko Girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thing I ignored the cover for A Very Country Christmas because the writing was fab. For me, this cover doesn't exactly scream, "Read me!" I mean, the dog is cute and looks exactly like mine, but what's up with the underwear on a hanger??

The title didn't sound like something I'd want to read, but I chose to ignore that, too. I'm so glad I read it! This novella is like a hidden gem, and even though this is the first book in the series that I've read, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything I needed to know. I will, however, be reading the other books because I love these characters and can't get enough of them!

Lottie's Christmas gets crazy when her dinner for two plans turn into a party for ten! She's sweet and lovable, plus she's kind of klutzy just like me. She hasn't cooked much, and I was so nervous for her to cook for this many people on such a big holiday.

Lottie's boyfriend, Rory, proposed to her a while ago but has yet to give her a proper engagement ring, mostly because of money. She dreams of spending time with him for Christmas, just the two of them, but she ends up inviting more and more people. It was so cute and funny. She's a very giving person. Lottie won't admit it to herself, but she really does want that engagement ring.

Rory, how I love thy name! (If you're a Doctor Who fan, you'll understand why I love that name so much!) He's so sweet and funny. This was just a really funny story that had me laughing out loud many times with Lottie and Rory's hi-jinks.

I have to admit I'm jealous of Lottie's family and how much fun they had drinking together and having fun. Even when things go awry as they were inevitably heading that way, they still have a great time.

I'm hooked on Lottie and Rory - love them together and want to read more of their story! I highly recommend you check this story out. It's FREE as of this posting!

Check out my blog at Donnie Darko Girl for more of my reviews!

[Cheryl Steckling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Country Christmas: A Free Christmas Short Story by Zara Stoneley

Tippermere has love in the air. Charlotte “Lottie” Brinkley is in line to inherit the Tipping House Estate where she lives with Rory Steel.
Lottie really wants a quiet Christmas with just Rory and her and has hope that perhaps this Christmas might be special with Rory giving her an engagement ring even though he already proposed. She has a special Santa costume already set to woo Rory.
But the things at the Tipping House Estate are never as simple as that. Lady Elizabeth Stanthorpe is the current owner of the Tipping House Estate and is Lottie’s grandmother. She really wants to help Rory surprise Lottie.
There are missing turkeys, loose horses and troublesome terriers all to make for some wonderful excitement. The ever so quiet Christmas that Lottie is hoping for never stands a chance. One invite leads to another and to another. A meal for 2 turns into a meal for 10 with lots of excitement and surprises.
Lottie prepared some of the Christmas meal at the main house on the estate but the meal itself was going to be at Rory and her place. Lottie was reminded to be sure to steam the pudding.
Lottie is disappointed that her ring was not under the Christmas tree. She was going to try to not let the romantic dream that did not happen spoil the day.
Rory thought of a horse for Lottie and it has a special surprise in his bridle. Lottie got her special Christmas gift!!!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Country Christmas is a look at Christmas in Tippermere. All your favourite characters (apart from Mick) are present, in this celebration of Christmas, set a few months after Country Affairs finished.

Lottie is intending to have a cozy Christmas for two with Rory this year, until the season of goodwill over takes her, and she ends up with a crowded house. Highlights include anything to do with the turkey (named Terrence), and the exploits of the slightly disgraced huntmaster.

As always at the start of this there is a guide to the characters you will see featured in Tippermere, so that even if you haven't read either of Zara's previous books, you still get a good idea of who is who and how they are related.

It is split into three sections, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and Christmas Eve was possibly the weakest in terms of overall enjoyment, but was all vital set up so that the rest of the story would make lots of sense, and be even more entertaining.

I felt so at home reading this, I didn't even mind that it was a short story. Sometimes short stories really bug me, but this one was just like an extra few chapters to a normal book, but with a standalone story that was highly enjoyable.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Hunt Writer First Steps
Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Facebook
Jane Hunt Writer Book Reviews Google+


‘A Very Country Christmas’ is a lovely festive romp in Tippermere. Escape to the complex and often humorous lives of the horsey set in Cheshire and share the best and worst of the Christmas holidays.
Packed with comic dialogue and imagery, this story, like the others in the series, is easy to read and visualise. Will Lottie and Rory’s rocky romance survive, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day? Download a free copy of this book to find out.
I enjoyed reading about the larger than life residents of Tippermere. Definitely a Christmas reading must.

Zara Stoneley

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews After reading the first two books in this series when I heard there would be a short Christmas filled visit to Tippermere I knew I needed a copy.

This book is set a few months after the end of the second book. Lottie and Rory are happily living in the little love nest on Tipping House Estate.

Some how Lottie inadvertently invites 8 other people to their cozy Christmas Dinner for two. Rory doesn't seem to mind to much, he loves a good party.

There's only one thing that Lottie wants this Christmas but will Rory deliver it?

This is a lovely little story filled with festive cheer. It made me long for my christmas day with the family.

I hope we get to see more of Lottie, Rory and the gang in the future.

[Shona Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I've come to expect from not just Tippermere but from Stoneley too. Right from the first page you are pulled into Lotties world with such ease its almost as though you are there right beside her. We join Lottie on Christmas Eve as she begins preparations for her quiet Christmas dinner with the man of her dreams Rory, but in true Lottie fashion, nothing goes quite like she planned.
Although a short read, this novella is filled to the brim of laughter and love. Not to mention a scandal or two ;-)
I've given this 5 stars though I'm tempted to knock a star or two off since there was a complete lack of Mick *sob*

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story about a woman named Lottie who decides to start accidentally inviting family over for Christmas dinner. She quickly realizes she has no idea what she is doing, which could have been played up a bit more. Her main goal, to get engaged. The story was cute, but something about everyone having to drink, and we trailed off into too many others stories. Plus the constant mentioning of how broke they were, yet they spent money like there was no tomorrow. Over all the plot line was entertaining, just wished it stayed more on plot.

[Julia Ibbotson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jolly Christmas romp in the country, but I think that if I had read the first books in this series and followed the characters throughout it may have made more impact. This was the first in this series that I had read so maybe there was a lack of familiarity and grasp of significances. I just felt I wanted something less predictable; I like something with more food for thought! But a good light read at this time of year, cosied up in front of a roaring fire!