A Christmas Wish

by Erin Green

Flora Phillips has an excuse for every disaster in her life; she was abandoned as a new-born on a doorstep on Christmas Eve 1984. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn't want you – who will?

Now a thirty-year-old, without a boyfriend, a career or home she figures she might as well tackle the biggest question of them all – who is she? So, whilst everyone else enjoys their Christmas Eve traditions, Flora escapes the masses and drives to the village of Pooley to seek a specific doorstep. Her doorstep.

But in Pooley she finds more than her life story. She finds friends, laughter, and perhaps even a love to last a lifetime. Because once you know where you come from, its so much easier to know where you're going.

A story of redemption and love, romance and Christmas dreams-come-true, the perfect novel to snuggle up with this festive season.

Genres: Christmas, Chick Lit, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Ebooks, Mystery

288 pages, ebook

Published August 1, 2017

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Reviews

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read.

I enjoyed taking this journey with our main character, Flora. She makes the rash decision on Christmas Eve to road trip to the village where she was abandoned as a newborn to try to discover who her birth mother is.

This isn't just romantic comedy (though there is some of that!) it is also a tale of a thirty year old woman trying to come to terms with who she is, where she's from, and why she was abandoned - a theme that has plagued her since she was a child.

I enjoyed this funny cast of characters, and the warmth that was shown to an outsider. I never would have guessed who Flora's mother was in the end, a mystery I certainly didn't solve!

3.5 stars

Thank you to Erin Green, Aria and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ A story of self discovery

A Christmas Wish is a charming story about self discovery and finding out who you really Are, when you just don't belong.

When Flora Is dumped as a tiny baby on a doorstep then adopted into a loving family. As she grows up she realises she just doesn't fit in! She is teased by the other children which in turn makes her more distant and feeling unloved.
Flora hasn't had things easy! She believes every little mistake in her life is down to her being unwanted.
Failed relationship=  her birth parents didn't want her.

So one Christmas Eve she plucks up the courage to visit the place where she was dumped, in the hope she might find answers!
Unfortunately for her 2 police officers are on duty and as Flora starts acting very strangely, they approach her.
Insisting she has been drinking she gets a little bit lippy, causing her to crash heads, headbutting his nose enough to break an officer's nose and become arrested!

Wow oh wow poor Flora!
She is not having much luck.
Determined not to spill the beans about her visit. She quickly changes her mind when she realises they mean business!
She has no option but to tell them who and why she's there.

The officers know about her she is Baby Bede.... it's a small village.... news travels fast.... will this make her the next big bit of gossip or will she uncover the secrets of her identity!!
I leave that for you to discover!!

The Christmas Wish, is a heartwarming mystery. That sweeps you along as you uncover the pieces of the puzzle alongside Flora in the challange to find her mother/family!
Flora at times came across as a little annoying but I do also sympathise with her, never feeling loved or wanted must of been devestating. But i did get a lil fed up with her blaming her mistakes in life on being abandoned!

The story is written in several characters point of view which I loved as each character brings something fresh and new to the story.

Flora is on a journey of self discovery and uncovering truths. It has romance, a sprinkle of Christmas magic, humour, mystery, emotion and plenty of secrets.
It really is The perfect Christmas Mystery, that you will enjoy whilst cuddling up to a nice warm blanket.

I received this book from Brooks Cottage in which I voluntarily reviewed for the Blog Tour.

My Review is also on my blog website
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...

[Rebecca Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flora Phillips didn't exactly have the best start in life. Left as a baby on a doorstep, she feels immune to rejection - after all, who will want you if even your own mother abandons you...

30 years later her life isn't really going anywhere - no career to speak of, no boyfriend, no home of her own. On Christmas Eve she decides to find the doorstep she was abandoned on as a baby. She never expects to find hope, friends, a future, and maybe even love.

Although this book is initially set during Christmas, it's not your typical Christmas book and could really have been set anytime of the year. It wasn't what o expected from a "Christmas book". The chapters swap and change between different the viewpoint of various characters, and although it's clear from the chapter name whose viewpoint is being told, it did become a bit much. There were some lovely characters in the book, and also some annoying ones. The main protagonist, Flora, was a bit much and came across as extremely self absorbed, snappy and on the selfish side - particularly toward the decent people trying to help her and asking for nothing in return. It was like she thought everything revolved around her.

As a whole I found "A Christmas Wish" very so-so. I realised I wasn't particularly enjoying it when I kept catching myself looking at the % of the book left to read. It was so far fetched in places I was rolling my eyes in disbelief. I would have given up apart from I did want to see how the book concluded. Such a shame as the front cover is so lovely, which just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover...

With many thanks to NetGalley and Aria for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Karlita | Tale Out Loud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly confusing, mind-boggling and heart-stopping.

Flora Eloise Philips experienced every kind of rejection all her life. Feeling unloved and unwanted like everything happened to her by default — she lost her job with a pile of unopened posts and bills, got dumped by her boyfriend and worse was, her mother abandoned her at a doorstep one Friday morning on the 10th of October, 1986.

She never got a sense of normality ever since she knew about it or a peace of mind for thirty years. There's one question she wanted an answer: “Who is my birth mom?”.

Wanting to know the truth and finding the missing jigsaw puzzle of her life, she went to St. Bede's Mews, Pooley on a Christmas Eve in search for the answers of her who's and why's. After a fateful night in jail, she reunited with an overly excited newspaper boy and met the money-grubber cheating crackpot, the bitter gourd gold digger and the bloody gossip queen sisters. Will Flora finally be able to be a whole person or she'll end up being as broken as she was before?

Erin Green was able to equate feelings of longing with the suspense of revealing the truth to her readers. She made sure that the story is not far from a snowy winter eve, twinkling lights and love under the mistletoe.

Assumptions, gossips and secrets.

Everyone in the village of Pooley have their own memories to share like they are walking down on memory lane. They helped Flora in every way they can and it gave me a sense of belongingness like I was her, craving for the truth.

Each characters have their own secrets to tell from Dr. Fowler, Veronica, Annie and Mick to Scott and Joel, I couldn't helped myself rooting for all of them. They made an essential appearances in the story that formed an array of tangled web. The story was engaging and the author has the succinct talent of making her readers felt like they were inside the world of Flora or one of the village people of Pooley, just watching and waiting for the next gossip.

Joel's frustrations and a broken heart on the other hand gave a positive energy that formed an unspoken friendship and love for Flora. She may or may not be able to know the truth about her birth mom but more the less Joel fills that missing piece of her heart that will never ever be done by anyone or anything.

A Christmas Wish is not your average meet-cute romance read. It's actually a jam-packed mystery novel about love and friendship where you get misleading clues yet will consistently surprise you because the ending is a clean sweep of utterly shock and wonder.

“In real life things aren’t said, lies aren’t uncovered and families don’t address the issues they should. Instead they ignore the sensitive subjects, swallow the lies and look past the secrets, promising to deal with them one day.”

***Thank you Yasemin Turan of Aria Fiction for including me on this blog tour, to Netgalley and Erin Green for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Links to buy:
Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play

About the Author:

Erin Green was born and raised in Warwickshire, where she resides with her husband. She writes contemporary novels focusing on love, life and laughter. An ideal day for Erin involves writing, people watching and copious amounts of tea. Erin was delighted to be awarded The Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017 and previously, Love Stories ‘New Talent Award’ in 2015.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

[Priyanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out http://abooklionshideaway.blogspot.in/ for more reviews.
I was hit by a tiny reading slump this week and that's why I am late reviewing this, but I'm so glad I read it because it got me out of my slump. This is my first book by this author and I see myself reading her books in the future.

Flora is our heroine, she, like it says in the blurb was abandoned on a doorstep. The story starts on a Christmas Eve night where Flora abandons her Christmas party on a whim and is on a path to go find answers, find her birth mother. Lately, she was feeling abandoned because her boyfriend cheated on her and she didn't feel like doing the whole thing celebrating the Christmas Eve drunk in a pub with strangers and all. So she heads to the small village called Pooley. And her first encounter in the town with people is not so comfortable as she almost goes to jail for accidentally assaulting a police officer. And she discovers she is already popular around in this part of the town. It was all fun to read.

Joel is our hero. He is the police officer Flora accidentally "assaults". He too just went through a breakup recently. He seems to be so curious about Flora. I liked Annie and Mike who ran the pub and also own the inn where Flora is staying at. Annie was my favourite character. She helps Flora solve her mystery. We get a lot of POVs so that was great to see everyone's perspective as everyone has some sort of secret.

Ms. Green created a nice world. It was amazing to read about a village full of people being so close. Everyone has their own secrets and it was mesmerising to see them all unfold. I wanted all the gossip and making me sit on the edge of my seat at times. I liked the ending too. I liked reading about the England version of a small town, I hadn't read any book set in a small village of England before. I felt like I was in the village and part of their community so the writing was exquisite. It was a great mystery romance novel. I wholeheartedly enjoyed it.

*An ebook copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating first person points of view from several characters: this is the story of Flora Phillips and her need to find out just who she is, and why she was left on a doorstep as a newborn. At the start, Flora is a bit of a pity-me girl – and doesn’t engender much empathy as she has blamed all of her failings on her history. Can’t keep a job? She was abandoned as an infant. Can’t find a man? Abandoned – why would anyone want her? It was a struggle for me to not want to slap her and turn her to look forward rather than excusing her own lack of motivation and drive because of her history. And then, things started to turn for her (and me).

An impulsive decision to head to the doorstep on which she was found, and hopefully discover more about her own parentage turns into life changing moments for her and the people of the town. From an inglorious head butt to a policeman who will later become a love interest, to the wonderful pub owner Annie offering her support, comfort and friendship: the long buried secret of the “Baby Bede” causes tumult, turmoil and several upsets.

The concept behind this story is glorious, and Green shows a facility with description, characterization and drama that is evident, if occasionally bordering on too much information to process. But, nearer the end of the story, it becomes clear that this is Flora’s path through the questions she’s had, the people she encounters and the secrets and suspicions they have: liberally peppered with insets from the townsfolk and their own memories of 1986. With relationships starting, ending and experiencing tumult, Flora’s search is at the center of it all: from the sublime to the messy. With the little village where everyone knows your name, your history and even your family, she is an anomaly: all knew of her, none knew how she came to be.

If you are willing to surrender to the story as it unfolds, building a picture of the town and the people, you will search along with Flora: finding clues and information, seeing her grow and revert to old habits, and watch as her relationship with the town and Joel grows, and answers come to light. A wonderful debut that puts Erin Green on my authors to watch list.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Estella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Estella for Love Romance Books Blog

"If your mother doesn't want you..who will?" This is Flora Phillips philosophy. At 31 years old, Flora doesn't have a boyfriend, a career, or a home. So she figures she might as well tackle her life's biggest question ...who is she? So she decides to escape and goes to the village of Pooley to seek "her" doorstep.

This story is one of self discovery, love, romance and Christmas wishes come true. This book is well written and has well developed and relatable characters. I enjoyed this book immensely. I highly recommend this book!

[Marjorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is why you need to read the description of a book and not just go off the title and the cover illustration. I did my usual greedy "snap 'em up sweep" and was looking for a slew of Christmassy reads. The only thing that speaks to Christmas in this book is the date it all starts - Christmas Eve. It isn't really even a back drop to the action so that disappointment may have coloured my judgement of this book. I did feel that it was mis-named and slightly misleading; but if I'd read the blurb I may have picked up on that.

Still, quashed that feeling of mild delusion and ploughed on. Started off so well with the differing viewpoints of Joel and Flora and what exactly happened during that fateful clash on St Bedes Mews. The novel then proceeds to tell everything from the point of view of a different character as indicated by the section heading. Sadly, none of them have a distinct "voice" so I found myself having to frequently flip back to find out who was telling me this section. I have no issue whatsoever with first person story telling and seeing everything from one character's perspective - in fact this often makes the book for me because I become invested in that particular person. Unfortunately, because every one of them sounded the same I couldn't get particularly interested in any of them.

Love the story theme - an abandoned baby coming back 30 years later to find out who her mother was, less important to her seemingly is the father. What I didn't like was what a wet lettuce Flora is. Yes, I am sure it was a shock to find out the circumstances of your birth when you were the tender age of 7 but she seems to be stuck at that age and an immature, tantrum throwing 7 year old she must have been. Everything ill that has ever happened to her she blames on the fateful event in 1986 and blatantly ignores the good things and completely refuses to take control of her life.

Not quite sure where heartwarming or uplifting come into this story, they are as missing as the Christmas. The "romance" between Joel and Flora is just "icky" and so forced that they feel like two disparate characters just settling for the best they think they can get - which isn't really best for either of them. I did manage to read on to the end but wasn't really that fussed about who her mother was I just wanted to finish it so I could get on to something more warming and fun.

Simply put, this one really wasn't for me.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas eve is Flora’s 30th birthday but she doesn’t feel like she can move on in life. She and her boyfriend have just split up, her job is non existent and she has no idea who she really is. Flora had been left on a door step as a new-born baby, with no clue to who her mum or dad were, so after a few bevvies with her mates she decides she is going to return to the place she was born and do a little digging. Well when I say digging I aren’t talking bucket and spade level, I am talking JBC digging because the village will never be the same again!
I really loved Flora with her clumsiness and dizzy moments that made me laugh. Everything that has ever gone wrong in her life she has put down to the moment of being abandoned so she is putting everything into this being the way to solve all her life problems. Her first meeting with one of the village residents is a young police officer, which is very funny, sparks fly in every possible way between them.
The thing about a small village is that everyone knows everyone else’s business but no-one has a clue to who Flora’s mum could have been. I loved the genius ways that everyone mucked in to help. There are new long life friends to be made but casualties in the making too. A real heart string pull story that made me laugh and had its sad moments too. How different things are today.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely feel good read, not really a Christmas read as such, even though it started on Christmas Eve.

Flora has always felt different from day one and, at the age of 30, when she has no home of her own, no job and no boyfriend, and feeling like a complete failure, she decides to try and find out who abandoned her as a baby.

Each chapter was told from a different person's perspective, from Flora herself to her adoptive mother and various other characters she meets when she goes to the village of her birth. I liked this method of telling the tale, I felt it moved the story along quite smoothly and not too fast.

I thought the storyline was unique, I enjoyed the banter between the police officers, there were some laugh out loud lines, it was intriguing seeing how Flora's presence was having a strong effect on the villagers, as memories from the past are dragged up.

An entertaining, romantic read that had me quickly turning the pages desperate to know if Flora's Christmas Wish does come true!

[Jill Steeples · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Christmas Eve and Flora Phillips is looking for some answers: why was she abandoned as a baby on a doorstep thirty years ago? She returns to the village of Pooley to see for herself where her story begun and to find answers to those questions that have always troubled her.

It’s a gentle and engaging story set in a lovely village location with characters that will warm your heart. A perfect read for the holiday season.

[Stephanie Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading this emotional tale which begins at Christmas and manages to maintain that sentiment through to the end of the book, covering a two-month period.
There are quite a few characters involved in this story, but they all have individual personalities and each play an important part in Flora’s discovery of both her parentage and what she really wants from life. She is vulnerable and makes many unadvised (but totally human) mistakes, only to find unexpected care and support from her new friends, which gives this tale a wonderful community spirit and leaves the reader wishing they could live somewhere just like that.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flora arrives in the village she thinks she was born in one Christmas eve after deciding it is one of those things she should do rather than get just drunk with her friends. She was found on a doorstep just a few days old and most of the village remember the event but have never known who her mother is. One of those lovely comfortable reads that you can curl up with a coffee and enjoy. Characters that come to life through the pages and descriptions so you can see the scenes in your imagination. Although a Christmas title this is a book that could be read anytime as it’s only the start and end that are seasonally related. An uplifting thoroughly enjoyable read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I didn't finish this book, which was the only reason I gave it 2 stars. I've been trying to read it for the last 5-6 days, and I just can't seem to get interested in it. It's probably just me and my attention span the last couple days, but I only managed to get about 42% through it (maybe).

I am keeping it in my kindle, and hopefully in the next week or two I will be able to read the rest and then come back and give it another review.

[Sabina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book. I didn't get any attachment to the characters and it just wasn't a book for me.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Wish is an unbelievably good first book for author Erin Green. Although the story begins on Christmas Eve, it is a human story rather than a holiday story. Flora Phillips returns to the small village of St. Bede's Mews, Pooley, England, a place that has no memory for her but was her beginning. Flora was abandoned on the doorstep of the local physician on an early October morning thirty years earlier.

She has returned to her origin not because she has issues with her adoptive parents but because she has questions about her origin and her birth mother. Known locally as Baby Bede, her abandonment was the biggest story to hit this small town and is still an unsolved mystery.

As she looks at the doorstep on which she was found, local police officers Joel Kennedy and Scott Hamilton view her as a Christmas Eve reveler who has probably had too much to drink. Joel draws the short straw and goes out on the snowy evening to see to the odd acting lady. Unfortunately their meeting includes an accidental bumping of heads which sends him to the hospital with a broken nose and her to a holding cell.

By the time she is released it has become well known that she is Baby Bede as news travels fast in such a small town. Having only the red evening dress and a pair of strappy evening shoes, Flora seeks refuge in a small inn close to where she had been abandoned. She is taken in by inn owners Annie and Mick O'Neill, a childless couple. Nurtured by Annie, Flora begins an earnest search to find her parentage.

A delightful tale told using many voices, this book is a different tale showing the pain and yearning incurred in such an occurrence. The town rallies round Flora, as do her parents and best friends form Bushey, several hours away. The wealthiest man in town funds DNA testing, and the villagers participate. All the while, Flora and Joel, both recovering from dramatic break ups, cautiously find their way towards one another.

A lovely story for all seasons with rich characters, splendid winter settings, and a mystery with a very unexpected outcome. I do wholeheartedly recommend this book and very much look forward to Ms. Green's next novel.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

A Christmas Wish isn’t your typical holiday romance, while it begins on Christmas Eve it certainly doesn’t stop there.

Flora had been abandoned as a tiny baby. She makes the journey back to the village where she was found, and presumably her parents lived, to do some self-discovery. If she could have one Christmas wish come true it would be to find her blood relatives, to know why she was left behind with no one in the world, and how a mother could simply abandon her baby. Flora was adopted by a loving couple who made her their daughter in every sense except birth – but she is driven to know her past and now is as good a time as any to begin that search.

Flora has been a loner, by choice, so when she sets out to solve the mystery of her birth parents she will discover so many people would be willing to call her friend… or more. Perhaps she didn’t make the best first impression, but she simply needs some truth.

A Christmas Wish is a delightful story of one woman’s journey to find herself, or the person she might have been if she’d not been left on a doorstep practically naked. She will discover a mystery, new friends and a place that accepts her as she is in a way that no other spot has done. Perhaps she will find more than the truth about her past, but more importantly the love that will make up her future.

I would recommend this story for any time of year for it’s less about the holiday celebrations and more about one woman’s mysterious birth. If you love mysteries, holiday romance and simply a very good story then you’d enjoy A Christmas Wish.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Christmas Eve Flora is not in the mood to celebrate with her friends and on the spur of the moment she decides to go Pooley, the town where she was abandoned as a baby, and finds herself at the doorstep where she was left.

Joel is an on duty policeman and while waiting for the pubs to close on busiest night of the year he notices a woman behaving strangely outside a house and goes to investigate - accidentally she manages to collide with him and breaks his nose causing his colleague to arrest her for assaulting a police officer!

A lovely heart warming story as Flora tries to investigate the mystery of her birth, becoming part of the community and making many new friends as she goes along

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I knew it was a book that I wanted to read this festive period and after reading the blurb for the book I was intrigued.  I always love reading books by new authors and as this was a debut novel from an author local to me I was keen to get stuck in!

I liked the characters and the layout of the book with the chapters set for the different characters.  I thought that the story flowed really well and continued at a nice steady pace throughout.  The story is great and I really enjoyed following Flora on her journey of discovery.  Whilst the book is called A Christmas Wish, this is definitely one that can be read at any time of the year in my opinion.  

I really enjoyed this story and I loved that it was loosely based on a town local to me which made it all the more special!  4 stars from me and definitely a book I have and will continue to recommend - excellent for a debut!

[Leo Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and once started couldn't put it down. With excellent description of scenes and characters I felt like I was part of the community. With realistic characters and a unique plot-line this is a must read; this book will both make you laugh out loud but cry a little in places.

Enjoy!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the premise for this book is great, but the execution is lacking. Flora, adopted as a baby, is determined to find out who her birth mother is and perhaps why she left Flora on a doorstep of the town doctor and his wife one winter morning. Thus, leaving a holiday celebration for no real reason other than her thought about who her birth mother is, Flora returns to Pooley, the village where she was found on the door step. Standing and staring at the door step of this house where she was found, Flora is stopped by the local police, who want to know what she is doing there. During their discussion, Flora drops a paper, and she and one of the cops, Joel, both bend to pick it up at the same time. They butt heads, and Joel ends up with two black eyes and a broken nose. His partner Scott immediately arrests Flora for assaulting an officer, though Flora and Joel try to protest that what happened was merely and accident. Joel is off to the hospital to have his nose looked at, while Scott takes Flora to the local station to book her. There, as the locals question Flora, they realize she is the once-famous abandoned baby from thirty years ago. Unfortunately, the mystery of who she is and where she came from were never solved, and life moved on. However, the town has never forgotten. After having charges dropped, Flora stays on at the local pub and inn, the Peacock, owned by the loving Annie and her husband Mick. Thence, Flora continues her search for her mother, wondering each time she sees a woman about the right age if this woman is the one who left her on the door step that day. Everyone in the small town remembers the incident and has a basic opinion, but no one seems to know many details. Still, Flora stays on, hoping to discover who her mother is and what exactly happened. At the same time, Flora and Joel begin a relationship, fraught with events, emotions and memories that may just prevent it from becoming a real thing, while Flora continues her search.

This is a pretty good story. I did find it difficult to see the relationship between Joel and Flora, as, for a large part of the book, there was nothing between them except a basic friendship, though could see something hiding in the background and there was a basic chemistry. However, Joel had just left a relationship with and older woman, who later decided she probably should not have broken off with him and was thus trying desperately to rekindle what was once between them. Flora also has a history of bad relationships, and her current ex, like Joel’s, also wants to get back together. Neither of these makes things easier for the two. I think a lot of time in the book was spent going into background, with little of this adding much to the story, which made the story drag on and on—while there was no deepening of the Flora-Joel relationship. A missed opportunity. In addition, the author used a lot of British slang, which I was not familiar with, throughout, which only made it more difficult to plough through. I think the book would have been more enjoyable with less “Britishisms”. Not sure who the author intended as an audience, but, if it included American readers, she ought to keep that in mind for future books. Like other reviewers, I also skipped large parts of the book, as I found I could not bear to go through another chapter with little or no bearing on the ending, which I eagerly anticipated. This is a good story with a pretty good plot. I am just not sure of the execution. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great solid read with a really well thought out story line and so many components: family, romance, a mystery from thirty years ago, a new location, a whole village population and that's without mentioning Christmas!

Flora wants to solve the mystery of her birth as she was an abandoned baby. With her adopted parents off on a winter cruise she turns her back on a night out with her friends to start her quest. This is a book packed with detail which grabs your attention and doesn't let it go. It's one to really get your teeth into and happily, Erin Green follows through and ties up every thread with a nice neat bow before the final page. I love an author who doesn't leave me wondering what happened next. A real feel-good read, this is a Christmas novel which I would thoroughly recommend to readers - and the cover is gorgeous!

I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Kirstie Ibrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled with this. It sounded like it would be a good story but it was an effort to keep turning the pages. The story was ok but nothing great and there seemed to be too much "nothing" and going back and forth. I feel it would have been better as a novella with a lot of useless stuff taken out.

[Lyndsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far longer than it needed to be

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flora's life has been a series of disappointments. She believes it is because she was abandoned as an infant. She believes her entire life would have been better if she only knew who she was.
Although she was adopted by parents who love her very much, she still sees her life as being “less” than what it could have been.
On a whim, she drives to Pooley the village where she was found. It is Christmas Eve and in her party dress and high heels, she kneels at the locked gate to the church. Flora has been observed by two policemen who believe she must be drunk. Her car is parked in a no parking zone, she is behaving strangely and it is their duty to find out if she is in distress.
Pooley becomes her safe haven. In the village she is the Bede Baby. In the village, everyone knows of her but no one actually knows her. And in the village, she is welcomed with curiosity but also with open arms.
Annie and Mike run the pub and Flora is offered a room and food and friendship. Joel and Scott are the two policemen who found her. She accidentally head butts Joel and from that action Scott distrusts her. He believes it was an assault, he arrests her. Joel is fascinated by this young woman and in spite of his injury, he is curious about why she has come and what she wants.
Annie helps Flora create some plans to get people involved in helping her solve the mystery. Among other things there are interviews with people who may have memories of that morning when the naked baby wrapped in a towel was found on a door step.
One of the results of Flora's presence in the village is a closer look at personal histories. Relationships and reputations come under the microscope of memory. People who have been aware of the abandoned baby now look more closely at lives as they were in 1986 and how things have changed since then. They start looking at the village and themselves as an outsider would see everything and everyone.
Ms Green creates a Flora who sees the world through her own personal mirror. She is almost oblivious to anyone's feelings other than her own. Her parents and her two best friends have shared her life and she yet sees them as though they are minor planets in her universe. It takes her a very long time to come to grips with the way her actions are altering the lives of villagers, her parents and her friends. She could be a poster child for being someone who is self involved. Eventually the world around her and the people who populate that world seem to appear on her radar.
The villagers are a varied group of people with varied perspectives. Generally the generosity of spirit and the kindness is almost overwhelming. That generosity of character shown to Flora is what finally helps her find her way in the world.
Flora is definitely the main character, but Joel and Annie are two people who are important to the action. Both of them are very invested in village life and both of them have painful histories which have influenced their view of the world. Both of them are wonderful characters.
In fact, nearly every character in the book is a complete human being. Some of them are more likable than others, but all of them are interesting and it is easy to understand their motivation.
The plot is a good one, and as facts slowly emerge from the mist of the past, the reader is drawn into the guessing game. Ms Green has created a really good book.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

[M.W. Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas Wish by Erin Green

For those that know me, you know that you won’t hear too much about the actual story from my reviews. If you want those, then there are plenty of other reviewers and other sites that will tell you all you need to know about the story. No, I believe in telling you my thoughts on the style of the writing etc.

I have made it a habit, a joy of life to follow debut authors from the Romantic Novelists Association and it was with great joy that I came across this young lady’s’ first release. Getting published is a very difficult thing to accomplish, believe me, I know, however when you come across a story of this quality you know that all the hard effort that the author has put in is worth it as we, the reader, get to enjoy the fruits of her labour.

Briefly, this is a ‘Christmas’ story with a difference as despite the title, the story actually begins on Christmas Eve as our protagonist, Flora, is drawn back to the town in which she was abandoned as a new-born and the story is of her quest to find her mother. Aided by local copper, Joel, she finds more than she’d bargained for, and ultimately, the price she pays emotionally for the truth is more than made up for by what she gains from her spur-of-the-moment decision to leave a party to make the journey into the unknown.

For a debut author, I am very impressed by the skilful way this author weaves a tale of multiple characters, all with interlocking stories and motives that you swiftly get used to. It’s an unusual way of telling a story, though by no means less enjoyable for it and I’d be happy if I had half the skill to tell a tale so well. We switch from Flora, to Joel, to ex’s, landladies, doctors and well, you name it, we get it.

I’m very pleased to report that each character is well written, you can feel the love the author brings to each of her creations and this is a very, very accomplished first outing. I shall leave you with one final thought – keep an eye out for this author because after you have finished reading ‘A Christmas Wish’, the first thought that will go through your mind is when will her next book be out?

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine knowing since you were seven years old that you were special, different. Not the usual kind of special that every kind parents tells their children they are, but a ‘you were left on a doorstop as a baby’ kind of special. Wouldn’t you want to seek out answers? Wouldn’t you want to see where is was you were abandoned and perhaps to trace the parents that you never knew? This is exactly the decision that Flora comes to in A Christmas Wish, a decision which sees her on a journey that there will be no turning away from, and one which will change her life forever.

From the very beginning you get a really good picture of Flora. Having abandoned her friends at a club in Christmas eve, she sets off up the country in search of her past. From this very action you can see she is a determined young woman, and the more we get to know her, you get to see her head-strong and stubborn streak, as well as her kind nature and apprehension over what she is going to find. And she really does go on an emotional journey, torn between her love for her adoptive parents and her need to discover the truth about herself and her birth mother. Perhaps it is her age, or the fact that she is coming off the back of a failed relationship with no ties and no family to call her own, but whatever the reason, now it seems is the perfect time to head to Pooley to try to find the truth.

Now it doesn’t take long for the humorous side of the book to show itself. An accidental altercation with a Police Officer on her very first night sees Flora very nearly spend Christmas day in custody. And it is this gentle humour and the subsequent development of the friendship between Flora and Joel, which comes to inform the tone of the whole story. You can see that there is an immediate chemistry between the two, which isn’t just the painkillers Joel is taking following his first introduction to Flora. It really is a beautiful thing to watch blossom, beset with misunderstandings and plagued by those who would see to sabotage their relationship before it even begins.

There are some wonderfully diverse characters in the book, everyone from Landlady Annie, who becomes like a surrogate mother to Flora while she stays in Pooley, to the more eccentric characters such as Darren, the boy who discovered young Flora all those years before. Each one captures a certain element of village life, bringing a sense of authenticity to the story itself, especially the setting. And then there is Veronica. Joel’s ex. Well she’s certainly a character. I’ll say no more about her – perhaps best you read for yourself. There are so many people who have reason to keep secrets, that it really could be any of a number of residents who know the truth and yet no one seems to come forward. With many a clue being left for Flora in her comments book, how much of it she can rely on remains to be seen.

The story is told from the points of view of many characters, so I did have to concentrate a little as to who it was we were following in which chapter. It is easy enough to do, with the voices unique enough to tell apart and the narrative making it clear who was who. It is the first time I’ve come across quite so many voices being used, as we have not only Flora and Joel, but Annie, Flora’s adoptive mother, Janet, the Dr whose doorstep Flora was left on, Veronica and a mystery narrator all adding their voices to the mix, it is quite a lot to keep track of. If you don’t like multi-narrator stories, then this may well see you crack. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story, but took a little getting used to.

Overall, this is a very heart-warming and uplifting read, just perfect for Christmas.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Green (2017) A CHRISTMAS WISH

eBook published by Aria


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars


Amazon.com write, “Flora Phillips has an excuse for every disaster in her life; she was abandoned as a new-born on a doorstep one cold autumn night, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn't want you – who will? Now a thirty-year-old, without a boyfriend, a career or home she figures she might as well tackle the biggest question of them all – who is she? So, whilst everyone else enjoys their Christmas Eve traditions, Flora escapes the masses and drives to the village of Pooley to seek a specific doorstep. Her doorstep. But in Pooley she finds more than her life story. She finds friends, laughter, and perhaps even a love to last a lifetime. Because once you know where you come from, it's so much easier to know where you're going. A story of redemption and love, romance and Christmas dreams-come-true, the perfect novel to snuggle up with this festive season.”


This one was special. Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. And even if it didn't have the backdrop of Christmas I would be saying that this was a) special and b) lovely. There's a whodunit feel throughout though it's nothing murdery - it's Who Is Flora’s Mother/Father/Parents? The main character, Flora is feisty AF and the relationship/dynamic between her and the hunky sounding police officer, Joel is brilliant and ever evolving. And the supporting cast of characters who make up the community - also very brilliant. I rate this one very highly.


#Amazon #Kindle #eBook #ErinGreen #ChristmasWish #ErinGreenChristmasWish #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyChristmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #Crimbo

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a book tour and am voluntarily reviewing it. This was a sweet story with a great plot. Flora was abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and one Christmas Eve, she decides to flee her life and try to figure out where she came from. Some of the townspeople support her search and try to help, while others are angry with her for digging up the past. One person who helps her is police officer Joel, who Flora has an unlucky encounter with her first day in town that lands her in jail. As Flora searches, she begins to question her future and what she wants to do with her life.

Each chapter changes viewpoints and by the end of the book, I would say the reader has been in about 10 different people’s heads. It wasn’t confusing, though. There was one chapter at the end of the book that I think should’ve been left off, as it took away from the reality of the story, but it’s an extremely minor complaint. I love how this book had an element of mystery to it as I tried to figure out, along with Flora, who her mother could be. It also had romance, small-town drama, family relationships, and friendships. This book was well-written and moved at a good pace, even though Flora didn’t have many clues to her origins. A great Christmas read for fans of multiple genres!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll admit I started this one expecting something rather more Christmassy – although the story does open on Christmas Eve – but instead (and maybe I should have read the blurb more carefully) found it instead to be a wintery read with plenty about it to warm your heart. The structure is very different, with a range of characters picking up the story of Flora’s search for her birth parents from their perspective – and once I got into the zone, I liked that, especially the unidentified one who kept throwing in the red herrings, although I did sometimes need to double-check who it was that had picked up the story.

Flora is thirty, but does seem younger, and her self-centredness did get up my nose a little – but there were plenty of other characters I really liked, particularly the lovely Joel, mother-figure Annie, the lovely florist and the horrendous (but more complex than she at first appears) Veronica. The story’s a fascinating one, and I was intrigued to see how it turned out – there were really nice touches of humour, some well done sparky dialogue, and plenty of drama. And do you know, I’m always a bit of a sucker for a vividly drawn village setting and the community that lives there.