A Wedding at Christmas

Benson Family #4

by Chrissie Manby

A warm, wonderful and funny novel of family life from Chrissie Manby - the ideal treat this festive season.

What comes to mind when you picture a wedding at Christmas? A gorgeous white dress accessorised with a thick velvet cape... bridesmaids in red velvet too? An arch of Christmas greenery: holly and ivy and boughs of fir. Candles and fairy lights. Snow!

Chelsea Benson has just twelve weeks to organise her perfect winter wedding. Her family and friends pitch in to help, but sisterly squabbling, issues with money and an Ice-Queen mother-in-law soon threaten Chelsea's plans for her big day. And that's without the firework fiasco...

Rescuing Chelsea's dream of a proper family wedding might just take all the magic of Christmas...

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction

371 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2015

About the author

This author has also released books under the name Chris Manby

Reviews

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so bloody love Bensons! I can't believe that "A Wedding at Christmas" is the last book in the "Proper Family" series (and probably because of this fact, all the loose ends are tied and everything is wrapped up), I'm SO going to miss them! They are as imperfect as they can be, those lovely characters in the books, they are bickering, falling out, they take offence, they have problems and life is often pulling the rug from under them, and this is why I so love them! This all makes them perfect characters in my eyes, the fact that they are so normal and true to life, all their mishaps, adventures and that I can laugh and cry together with them.

This is the fourth book in the series but I think you can read it as a stand - alone (the most important parts and info from previous books are recapped here, of course), although in my personal opinion you'd miss to much not reading previous books! The family tree at the beginning of the book was a nice surprise to me and I see it as a great idea, not only for those who pick this book as a first read in the series, but for the returners to the family as well.

As soon as this beautiful, shiny, sparkly copy arrived on my doorsteps, there was nothing holding me back and I put my nose into the story, only occasionally coming up for air. Believe me - once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It is written in this brilliant, warm writing style, that just draw you in and you feel a part of the characters' world. Secondly, it is about Bensons, a family that is close to outrun my favourite family at he moment, the Walshs. Thirdly, the cover is so, so, so beautiful, all sparkly and Christmassy - what's not to like?

"A Wedding at Christmas" focuses on Chelsea this time, and I couldn't be more happy, as I really love her. She's the most cool - headed out of the three sisters, but it doesn't mean that she's not interesting or boring! On the contrary, she's so warm and lovely, and I'd love to have her as my friend. This time Chelsea has only 12 weeks to organize her wedding, and even though it is doable, with the Bensons involved - especially Ronnie and Annabell - some problems are going to see the light of the day and the things are not going to run as smoothly as Chelsea would like them to. Also on the Adam's mother - in - law front - oh, I so felt for our poor Chelsea, everything she did was turned upside down and she was always the one to be blamed.

Ronnie and Annabell let the emotions run high this time. For me, Ronnie has shown her true colours in this book - uncertain, jealous, childish. On the other hand, she can be so brilliant, so funny, and she is a wonderful mum to Sophie and Jack. I understand of course where she comes from with her uncertainties, we all have them, especially as there is suddenly a new family member on the scenes, but she is an adult woman and I think she should really get a grip and not wait for something bad to happen to stop being offended with nothing. I personally didn't have a feeling that Annabel wanted to steal the show, she just wanted to help, and I could only applause Chelsea for being so clear - headed and not letting to be blackmailed. But even with Ronnie being so difficult, I really love all members of the Bensons family, and their antics. It is not only like reading about a family next door, it is like reading about your own family, with all the ups and downs and problems - they are so down to earth, nothing is too pushed or far - fetched in the Bensons' lives. Also, this time the children, Jack and Lilly play a big part in the story and I loved the scenes with them, especially with Jack - such a lively, brave boy with a heart made of gold! Both of them so well developed and so realistic, with the way they were talking and behaving.

The story is written in my favourite way - with short, sharp chapters. I personally find reading a book with short chapters easier and quicker, and they don't drag on, they're spot on. Each of the chapters is titled with the character's name, so we know who's going to be in the spotlight, and so we get a lot of points of view, but everything is so clear and not at all confusing - even with four generations wanting to tell their story, and so many characters. Sure, there are things that are predictable, they you see coming, but that absolutely neither bothered me nor spoiled the book to me, and nevertheless, there was always an element of a surprise.

The end was perfect - it had me laughing, but it also had me in tears. This is a big and bouncy family drama with a pinch of salt - there is this lovely humour that I loved so much in the previous parts, but perfectly mixed with truly dramatic and emotional moments, too. It is a really perfect read, full of fun mixed with emotions, and already with a festive feeling to it. Absolutely brilliant novel, with characters that you feel so drawn to, that you root for, and sometimes want to shake as well, down to earth storyline and wonderful way of storytelling - highly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.

[Rea Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Book-shelf Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get to meet the Bensons again in a romantic hilarious story. Chelsea met Adam on holiday and now he has asked her to marry him. The wedding is set for next year when Granddad becomes seriously ill. Chelsea & Adam agree to bring the wedding forward. What follows is funny, sad, and all the hassle of organising a wedding in a short space of time... even family can drive the calmest of brides mad.
Chrissie has the time of writing style that will keep you awake to turn every page, along with humour and fabulous characters... and the Benson lot are some of the best characters i have had the please of.

People in the midlands will love all the local references and especially Coventry :)

[Nicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of my unread Xmas novels from a year or two ago. I read one chapter and then the last chapter and DNF’d it.
Cloying rubbish in big print and very simple writing. I think you might enjoy this if you’ve recently had a lobotomy.

[Jessica (Jess Hearts Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Possibly my new favourite of the series!

[Paula Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love catching up with the Benson, Benson-Edwards, Buchanan and Baxter families. Hope there are more to come in the 'proper family' series xxx

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best thing about a series is that you get to follow specific characters throughout their journey, you get attached to them. I've been reading Chrissie Manby's books since forever, for the Benson Family series is her first and she writes about the family so well! I am thoroughly attached to all of the characters, with Chelsea Benson as my favourite. I don't know if I'm just more emotional than usual this month, but the last hundred pages of this book made me cry both happy and sad tears. I really felt for Chelsea, her struggles, and how nothing ever really went ok for her. Very good read, and I hope there's going to be another book about the Benson family soon.

[Lucy Halford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy read for the festive period. An all round feel-good story making you smile until the very end.

[Yrinsyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just what I needed, some feel good fluff after a hectic few days. The Benson family stories are fun, tho a little twee.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing funny yet romantic Christmas novel with many twists and turns but does all end well in the end. Chelsea meats Adam on a holiday and he's now asked her to marry him and she's excepted. She has to meet his first wife's parents as they are a part of his life even though his wife died due the daughter they had together. Do they get on or does it take time and family arguments look to upset the wedding so do they sort it out and do the couple get the perfect wedding. A must read very easy with short chapters and very enjoyable to read.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved catching up with the Benson family again, there are lots of laughs in this book but also some sad times. I felt rather Christmassy reading this book as it is now not too long till Christmas, I loved the fact the story centred around Chelsea and how she has to cope with his family and his late wife's family, I did really feel for her at some points. I love Jack and Lily's relationship and how much mischief they can get in to when they are together. All in all a brilliant Christmas read.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een mooi verhaal over een droomhuwelijk dat in een nachtmerrie dreigt om te slaan, maar gelukkig zijn er altijd mensen op wie je kan rekenen.

[New_Me · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't like it one bit. Took me ages to finish it.

[Bookread2day · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful read, from Chrissie Manby who is a wonderful story teller.

[Sarah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and this I understand is the 4th book in a Benson family series. However you can easily read this book as a stand alone as I have. I felt that I hadn't missed out on anything but I must admit I will be looking out for the other books in this series.
I loved the Benson family with all their imperfections, family quarrels and re arranging the lyrics of the classic Christmas carols.
The story was lovely and as this was the last book in the series there was no story lines left hanging over leaving me very satisfied that everything was tied up neatly.
Yes I would certainly read other books by this author as this book had me laughing out loud as well as crying. That is a mark of an excellent author to elicit such emotions from me.
So a wonderful cosy, happy, emotional book about a family and all it's imperfections with a satisfying ending. Great!

[Zoë Neo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway early in 2016, but only just got round to reading it. I didn't realise when entering the giveaway that this book wasn't the first in the series but I enjoyed it anyway. Things that had happened in the past were well explained so I didn't feel like I had missed anything important from the previous books.

I enjoyed the book. It was nice Christmassy read and I liked that it was split up into very small chapters as I found I was reading more in one go that way.

The only thing I didn't like was that some bits were quite repetitive (i.e. all the "belching") and that a lot of what happened in the book was predictable.

[Hannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het vierde deel van deze serie. En zover ik weet tot nu ook het laatste deel. Dit boek was net als de andere delen leuk om te lezen. De personages voelden al heel bekend. Ik vond het wel jammer dat Jane uit deel drie niet een klein rolletje had in dit boek. Maar wellicht komt er nog een vervolg waarin zij een rol speelt. Dit boek draait hoofdzakelijk om Chelsea, de jongste van de drie zussen. Al is er ook zeker ruimte voor de andere familieleden. Ondanks dat ik ook van dit deel heb genoten, ben ik ook wel toe aan een ander soort boek. Doordat ik alle vier de delen achter elkaar heb gelezen voelt het meer als een verhaal dan als vier losse boeken.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this.

All in all very nice easy/quick christmassy read, very enjoyable, relatable characters, realistic story lines with family arguments. Huge mix of high class/middle class characters which was interesting and added to the story.

Will definitely read more of Chris Manby's books in the future!

Wasn't a fan of all the 'fist bumps' and 'high fives' etc thought that was really cheesy and irritated me.

p.s I did not read the books in order - but you don't really need to as it recaps and reminds you of what's been going on.

[Allison Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice Xmas read. I didn’t know there were others in the series, so this is the first one I’ve read. And also, the first one I’ve read by this author. I’m not too keen on the Annabelle and Ronnie sisters. Chelsea seems the best one by far. The kids Jack and Lily were funny. Some predictable parts and a couple of unpredictable. A bit sad and happy at the end. It wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down, but not the worst book I’ve read either. An enjoyable read

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

On my scale of chick-lit this was decidedly so-so. It probably didn't help that I hadn't read any others in the series so was a bit behind on the family dynamics. However, I did like the fact it deals with some more serious issues mixed in with the usual fun of the genre and bits were very sweet. Overall it did make me feel Christmassy which is what I wanted so I could be tempted to pick up some of her other Christmas titles.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christmassy read chosen for me by the staff at Taunton library, Somerset, England.

The Benson family has an interesting dynamic, with a family tree on the very 1st page! This was the 4th instalment of the Proper Family series of books by Chrissie Manby.

Although this was a uncomplicated read, with a few twists and turns, it had a storyline which did not require deep thinking, you just needed to want to be carried along in the mayhem and madness of arranging a wedding in 12 weeks!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely out of season - found this on my Kindle and remembered the other books in the series were a light frothy family saga. This did not disappoint - a quick read - mostly set in my adopted home city (with a few local references) but with warmth and attractive 'human' characters who you can empathise with. Manby has struck the tone just right!

[Meg R White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Chelsea so much and I felt there was a lot of growth there. I really liked the occasion nod to the other ‘proper’ family books. The only thing I didn’t like (which wasn’t actually a negative but I’m extremely character driven) was the cuts to other people (namely Ronnie and Annabel) who are both pretty unbearable for me!

[Kayde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, this book was lovely, and just what I needed to get my into the festive spirit! I love the Benson Family tales and like the others, I really struggled to put this down. The ending gave me a tear in my eye! I really hope we get so see more of the family adventures soon.

[Louise Bookmac82 Mackin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Another fantastic story about the Benson's. Full of humour, excitement and twists and turns, a lovely easy Christmas read, which could be enjoyed any time. Can't wait for the final installment

[Mousie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loves this book. Be prepared for tears towards the end (don't recommend reading if you are an emotional tired wreck after night shifts).

[Beth Cooksey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over-sentimental for my taste.

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting book

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite book of the Proper Family series. I really enjoyed it. I hope there will be another book (A Proper Family Baby maybe?) but if not this was the perfect end to the series.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable Christmas tale with a bittersweet ending.