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A Song for St Nicholas: The Christmas Choir
Fabrian Books' feel good novels are heart-warming romantic stories that leave you believing a happy ever after does exist.
Anna Byron is supposed to be living the dream. With a six figure salary and a boyfriend hinting at a Christmas proposal, it should be the perfect end to the year. Except Anna’s life has never felt so empty and a chance encounter makes her realise it’s time to go home to the beautiful seaside town of St Nicholas Bay.
Jamie Harrington was eighteen the last time he saw Anna, when he disappeared from her life without explanation; but ten years later he’s back in the Bay, too, as the newly appointed vicar.
Setting up a Christmas choir seems like the perfect opportunity for them to give their relationship a second chance, but there are tensions in the group and secrets from the past soon start to unravel.
Someone’s out to get the Harrington family and rumours about who was really involved in a tragic drowning a decade earlier won’t go away. Weighed down by guilt, Jamie convinces himself that he doesn’t deserve Anna’s love and it looks like history - and his disappearing act - are about to repeat themselves.
Can Anna and Jamie let go of the past and learn to trust each other again or will the choir be disbanded for good by the time Christmas Eve comes around?
Anna Byron is supposed to be living the dream. With a six figure salary and a boyfriend hinting at a Christmas proposal, it should be the perfect end to the year. Except Anna’s life has never felt so empty and a chance encounter makes her realise it’s time to go home to the beautiful seaside town of St Nicholas Bay.
Jamie Harrington was eighteen the last time he saw Anna, when he disappeared from her life without explanation; but ten years later he’s back in the Bay, too, as the newly appointed vicar.
Setting up a Christmas choir seems like the perfect opportunity for them to give their relationship a second chance, but there are tensions in the group and secrets from the past soon start to unravel.
Someone’s out to get the Harrington family and rumours about who was really involved in a tragic drowning a decade earlier won’t go away. Weighed down by guilt, Jamie convinces himself that he doesn’t deserve Anna’s love and it looks like history - and his disappearing act - are about to repeat themselves.
Can Anna and Jamie let go of the past and learn to trust each other again or will the choir be disbanded for good by the time Christmas Eve comes around?
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 28, 2017
The perfect Christmas feel.
Jo Bartlett's books never fail to leave me filled with all things nice, and this is no exception! It was lovely to be back at the Bay and meet the characters I had grown to love in the previous of the series. As usual it can be read as a standalone, too.
I am not a very Christamassy person but this story left me looking forward to celebrating the forthcoming season. Full of love and goodwill, very well plotted and a pleasure to read.
The perfect read to get in the mood!
Jo Bartlett's books never fail to leave me filled with all things nice, and this is no exception! It was lovely to be back at the Bay and meet the characters I had grown to love in the previous of the series. As usual it can be read as a standalone, too.
I am not a very Christamassy person but this story left me looking forward to celebrating the forthcoming season. Full of love and goodwill, very well plotted and a pleasure to read.
The perfect read to get in the mood!
August 30, 2025
Anna is a high-flyer in a London firm, but she suddenly gives it all up to return to her small hometown. Much to her surprise, the man who broke her heart by leaving without a word to her is back too, and even more surprisingly, he’s a vicar. Do they get a second chance, or will the secret that caused Jamie to flee all those years ago come between them again?
I usually enjoy Jo Bartlett’s books but I think this short Christmas book was rushed. Poisonous Pat is too poisonous. Louisa, the annoying mother, is too annoying (the annoying mother trope is a pet peeve of mine. Do all authors of women’s fiction hate their mothers? ). Hugh is too horrible. They’re all just a little over baked.
I think Jamie gets off too easily, not from Anna, but from almost everyone else involved.
The copy editor missed more than a few errors (Mollie or Molly? Did Anna “wrap” on the door, or did she “rap” on it?) and, the overuse, of commas, was bizarre, and distracting.
I usually enjoy Jo Bartlett’s books but I think this short Christmas book was rushed. Poisonous Pat is too poisonous. Louisa, the annoying mother, is too annoying (the annoying mother trope is a pet peeve of mine. Do all authors of women’s fiction hate their mothers? ). Hugh is too horrible. They’re all just a little over baked.
I think Jamie gets off too easily, not from Anna, but from almost everyone else involved.
The copy editor missed more than a few errors (Mollie or Molly? Did Anna “wrap” on the door, or did she “rap” on it?) and, the overuse, of commas, was bizarre, and distracting.
January 16, 2020
Christmas stories are often about redumption, as we all need something that can take away the guilt that gnaws at us. Jamie's is failing to be entirely honest about something that was not his responsibility. He abandons his family and his girl friend, and flees the community that he belonged to. Years later, he returns as a Vicar, hoping to make amends for the sins of his family.
Anna's story has been that of a high achiever, always trying to please her mother and fulfilling her ambitions. Her past has shaped her, but a chance encounter with a homeless person changes something in her. Back home, she is face to face with Jamie and her past. However, home is relationships, traditions and her sister.
Before the happily ever after, there is still the demon of the past waiting to be resolved. A good read.
Anna's story has been that of a high achiever, always trying to please her mother and fulfilling her ambitions. Her past has shaped her, but a chance encounter with a homeless person changes something in her. Back home, she is face to face with Jamie and her past. However, home is relationships, traditions and her sister.
Before the happily ever after, there is still the demon of the past waiting to be resolved. A good read.
March 9, 2022
What a journey
It took me a while to get into this book, but once i had time to sit and read a few more chapters it was hard to put down. My mind kept racing ahead as to what jamie's secret was i kept thinking maybe jamie was a murderer. Then i thought maybe giles. The next chapter i thought it must be patsy as she protested too much that john was a murderer. The truth came out in the end but it wasn't who i thought at all. I look forward to seeing the next instalment.
It took me a while to get into this book, but once i had time to sit and read a few more chapters it was hard to put down. My mind kept racing ahead as to what jamie's secret was i kept thinking maybe jamie was a murderer. Then i thought maybe giles. The next chapter i thought it must be patsy as she protested too much that john was a murderer. The truth came out in the end but it wasn't who i thought at all. I look forward to seeing the next instalment.
January 12, 2018
Pleasant easy read
This has been a pleasant short story for over the Christmas period that you are able to fit in around all the activities at home. Likeable characters and a believable story based around village vicar and a woman returning home after working away. A quick read that comes to a predictable end but still enjoyable.
This has been a pleasant short story for over the Christmas period that you are able to fit in around all the activities at home. Likeable characters and a believable story based around village vicar and a woman returning home after working away. A quick read that comes to a predictable end but still enjoyable.
April 4, 2018
Great
Nice light read with the right amount of suspense to keep it a good page turner. Will defiantly read more by Jo Bartlett.
Nice light read with the right amount of suspense to keep it a good page turner. Will defiantly read more by Jo Bartlett.
December 19, 2021
Great Christmas Story
Love these short stories, so easy to get lost in the world of the characters. Once you start you won't want to put it down
Love these short stories, so easy to get lost in the world of the characters. Once you start you won't want to put it down
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews