Christmas in Peppercorn Street

Peppercorn Street #5

by Anna Jacobs

Christmas is fast approaching but for some people living at the top end of Peppercorn Street, the mood is far from festive. Luke Morgan is not getting on with his teenage daughter, who has recently returned to live with him. In a nearby village Claire Small is trying to avoid her sadistic ex who is stalking her. When Claire and Luke are thrown together by a car accident caused by her dog, it's obvious that she is in danger and he impulsively invites Claire, her delightful small daughter and their lovable dog to take refuge in his home.

Can the presence of strangers help to rebuild the relationship between Luke and his own daughter? And will this Christmas give them the best present of all: a new family - or will Claire's ex again cause trouble?

Genres: Romance, Christmas

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2019

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this was book 5 in the Peppercorn Street series but it’s definitely a stand alone.
I absolutely got more than I bargained for reading this, it was awesome.

I just had to get back to reading this each chance I got.

I’m not going to give much away as I don’t like that myself. So.....

You have a woman and her daughter who are on the run hiding from an abusive partner.

You have a lovely gentle-man, yes, a “gentle” man who works hard for where he’s got in life.
Nice home and plenty in the bank.
His ex dumps his daughter on him. He doesn’t mind at all as he wants more to do with his daughter, however, his daughter isn’t very talkative, she’s been a bit poisoned by her mother against her father it seems.

These two meet under certain circumstances.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a happy clappy romance, far from it.

Her ex is in search of his daughter Gabby.

This is a brief outline as like I say, between these pages is not full of kisses under the mistletoe.

I really enjoyed it, Anna Jacobs is an author I read from my mid twenties onwards. I think she’s written over 80 books. Or somewhere around that, she’s such a fabulous storyteller.

Great Christmas read but with sheer depth.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this finished just before midnight! I didn’t realise this was part of a series - but it didn’t matter because it was a perfectly decent standalone novel with some lovely characters as well as some messed up ones! After hitting a woman with his car on a dark night, Luke is filled with remorse and decides to let the woman (named Claire) and her daughter Gabby live with him and his daughter Dee for a few days so that she can recover. The only trouble is Claire and gabby are running from Claire’s screwed up ex Martin, who can’t stop stalking her and is determined to snatch gabby at the first chance he gets. Can Luke keep this little family safe in his home, or will he and his daughter also be in danger?
Despite the rather distressing synopsis it’s actually not that sort of a book; I really enjoyed it and found it very readable.

[Britt N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid cute Christmas story. I loved that the characters got a nice H.E.A. especially with all of the crap that Claire and Gabby had to go through with Martin. I really enjoyed all of the characters, and while some of them were super frustrating (Hillary), they were human and that was well done.

I wish the writing wasn't so simplicistic, and that the author could have just mentioned once that Dee liked to wear black clothes/was a Goth teen and just let her be, but the author clearly feels some type of way about it. Apparently this book is part of a series, but it read as a standalone which I thought it was. It was overall a sweet book.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet heart warming festive story about love and family. Thoroughly enjoyed this, and loved the characters.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it's such a heart warming story and a nice easy read too

The front cover of the book makes you feel warm and cosy too

I was a bit unsure about reading a Christmas book in July, it felt strange but actually it's not that christmassy at all so can be read any time

I would recommend this book

[Kerry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap even for a crap Christmas book.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved it. I throughly enjoyed this series and Anna Jacob’s books. They are easy to read and they stay relevant and I always love the characters she makes. She is a awesome author.

[dianne bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

How lovely to catch up with old friends from the previous peppercorn books
Anna Jacobs never disappoints her reader's brilliant book worth 5 stars

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant story

This story was lovely to read i really enjoyed it and all the people in it what a brave little girl Gabby was to know what to do when her mother and herself were in danger from her father i felt very sad for them cruel and nasty to put his child and her mother through this.Luke's daughter Dee was also having problems with her mother as well such a shame for parents to do this to their children out of spite.I can't believe i was surprised to be reading a Christmas story in July but I really enjoyed it.Thank you Anna for these wonderful stories I've read over 40 of them and enjoyed all of them .

[Cheryl Rosario · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story to break in my new Kindle Paperwhite. The topic of women in relationships isn't just a hot one at the moment but a continuous topic that makes those of us who have a wonderful family life realise how much we take for granted sometimes. The author has been extremely true to the conditions and situations faced by these women as they struggle to protect themselves and their children.
As always by this author, well written and a lovely story.

[Jase · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sure this book has a large audience, but I am not one of the target audience. I was expecting something different, but got a little saccharine sweet romance story. I realised it was part of a series , so I expect the neighbours were characters already covered. I thought the relationship happened all too quickly, and lots of assumptions about the characters. The writing was very simple, and at times that annoyed me, again I’m not the target audience. It passed the time, but very little else.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another addition to the Peppercorn series and it was a great read. I'm so thankful that our librarian introduced me to Anna Jacobs books so many years ago as she is a lovely author. This was a nice, relaxing read for the Christmas holidays. I do hope there will be more stories for the Peppercorn series.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this joy of a book, such a great story so wonderfully told! My first read by Anna Jacobs, yes my first read was the 4th book in a series, and no I don't care 😅 it was an absolute joy to read and il happily read the series in order plus other books of hers too! If u haven't read it I highly recommend ❤ even if u haven't read the others before hand! X

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, although it was a Christmas themed book, it also had a lot of other factors in it that made it very readable and unputdownable. I have read many books by Anna Jacobs and have not been disappointed yet. Yes it is part of a series, which I have not read yet, but this didn't matter one bit, I was soon engrossed into the storyline. A lovely 5 star read.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book for Anna Jacobs. Having read the others in the series I thought this would be s nice Christmas read. However the only thing Christmassy is the shopping for the tree and the last chapter . I did find it a bit slow to get going but overall it was a good book.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gabby and Dee

Loved this book meeting up with old friends again can't get enough of these books Luke and Claire literally run into each other and Luke offers a safe haven for Claire and gabby with him and his daughter Dee 5 stars for a fantastic book xx

[Joan Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to reading this since I knew it was being published and I wasn't disappointed. Another triumph for Anna Jacobs books, I was enthralled from start to finish and really enjoyed reading it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family made out of trouble times.

Wonderful story - could not to reading this.
Wonderful characters from the main ones to the neighbours to grand parents and even the police. Simply love it!

[josephine Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely ending to the Peppercorn stories

I have really enjoyed all of the Peppercorn stories, but other than the Christmas story it is my second time of reading them. It is very comforting to reread the stories and surprising how much I missed the first time!

[Diana B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant, if undemanding book. No sex or profanity. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series but that didn't matter, as this book works as a stand-alone. My first book by Anna Jacobs, and I liked her style of writing. I'm planning to read the rest in the Peppercorn Street series now.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was part of a series until I went to give it a rating! Easily a standalone story. I came across it on a shelving trolley at my local library. A sweet book about second chances and trusting again.

[Louisa Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want it to end!

What a beautiful way the story brought all the series together. I just wanted to keep on reading . Awesome

[Wendy Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book not read this author befobut will look out for more of her books.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely Feel Good novel, i couldn't put it down! This book definitely gave me back my reading mojo 😁

[Coco · Rating 1 out of 5]

Depressing and predictable story line and a bit twee.

[Cruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wanted to like the story but didn't enjoy the writing style.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, feel good, quick read. Hea ending.

[Cyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story and narration.

[Marthe De Haan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful feel-good story, perfect for reading over Christmas. I did find it was a bit predictable and too cheesy at times.

[Rachel Arney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, absolutely the sweetest book!! Just a good Christmas fluff read and too cute. Good ending.