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The Christmas Menagerie
Amelia usually loves Christmas, but this year is her first one alone since her husband passed away – though she's not quite by herself. Somehow, she's been lumbered with a menagerie of pets over the holidays, no thanks to the new village vet closing the local kennels.
Between a parrot, two tortoises and god-knows-how-many baby mice, Amelia ends up seeing a lot more of Jules the vet than she planned to. And despite her neighbours' fury for the man who shut down a local institution, she can't help enjoying every moment she spends with Jules.
She tells herself it doesn't really matter as surely Jules will be driven out of the village by this time next year. But as Amelia's about to discover...
...love isn't just for Christmas!
Between a parrot, two tortoises and god-knows-how-many baby mice, Amelia ends up seeing a lot more of Jules the vet than she planned to. And despite her neighbours' fury for the man who shut down a local institution, she can't help enjoying every moment she spends with Jules.
She tells herself it doesn't really matter as surely Jules will be driven out of the village by this time next year. But as Amelia's about to discover...
...love isn't just for Christmas!
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2020
22 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 24, 2020
"Love isn't just for Christmas!"
It is quite widely known that I am not much of a 'seasonal' reader, so you will quite often find me reviewing Christmas books in the middle of summer and vice versa, so to actually get to this book read and reviewed on schedule is something of a novelty in itself!
The book has an opening which really throws you head first into some rather chaotic action, an eventful storyline which chugs along nicely with not too many surprises, and an ending which is hugely satisfying if predictable. But who doesn't relish a bit of predictability in todays uncertain world, and especially at Christmas!
There are so many 'cozy' mysteries out there on the shelves with specific themes, that to find a 'cozy' romance with a strong emphasis on theme, is a whole new ball game for me! The Christmas Menagerie, is exactly what it says on the cover, a contemporary feel-good romance, with plenty of wildlife action for all you animal lovers out there.
Having no pets of my own, the thought of having this random, mini travelling pet shop, of various ill-matched animals and birds turn up on my doorstep completely unannounced, would really see me running for the hills. However Amelia, our reluctant, amateur pet-sitter, takes it all in her stride and copes with the situation as best she can, albeit with rather disorganised competence. It's a good job that there is a friendly vet on standby though, just to help out with the couple of odd unforeseen incidents, which add some unscheduled humour and mayhem to the festive period! This new friendship is also potentially on course for a romance which will last way past Christmas, if only life, a rival for Jules's affection, family and other people's pets, just didn't keep getting in the way!
Told largely from the perspective of Amelia herself, with just a few chapters added by her daughter Sophie, this book to escape into, offers story-telling which is full of heart and humour, multi-layered, rich in atmosphere and moves along at a fair pace. The chapters are short and sweet, with some great unscripted descriptive narrative and intelligent observational dialogue. Jules, the newly arrived vet, causes a ruckus in this small community, by closing down a family run business which has become unmanageable and downright dangerous, heaping onto himself the focussed wrath of Sophie, who does love a 'good cause' to become passionate about, particularly when she can deflect some of her own problems for a while. Not so good for her mother, Amelia though, who is as attracted to Jules, as he is to her.
Amelia has one potential rival for her affections and although she is a little uncertain about how to handle the situation, given that she is so not in tune with modern dating protocol, she does eventually manage to fend her off permanently, although not without the odd awkward incident. No raw passion or lust, just a profoundly touching story of two middle-aged, emotionally vulnerable people who are attracted to one another, coming together naturally, when the time is right and each have sorted out their feelings about each other and the personal baggage they both carry. Amelia and Jules are also mature and sensible enough to realise that they will be better together, if they have the full support of their respective families and close friends, so once Sophie and Jules have made peace, Amelia's second daughter offers her blessing and Jules's much younger son is ready to have someone else step into his mother's shoes, then the green light definitely means 'go'!
There is quite a profusion of 'bit part' characters, who make this saga what it is, bringing life to the village in a very three dimensional way. None of them are particularly complex, although all are engaging, sympathetically drawn and carefully defined by the author. The unique dynamics of so many diverse and multi-faceted personalities really works, making them easy to connect with and invest in as a group. Some of them might seem, and indeed are, a little larger then life, however there is a good synergy between them, which makes this strange mix work really well.
Minna has written a compelling and lovely, 'escape into' story, which immediately put me at ease and drew me in with a real sense of time and place, leaving me feeling totally relaxed and unhurried. A lovely fun read for anytime of the year!
I was really undecided about a review rating for this book, so here at Fiction Books Blog I am awarding 3.5 stars, however for any external review site this will be rounded up to 4 stars.
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
It is quite widely known that I am not much of a 'seasonal' reader, so you will quite often find me reviewing Christmas books in the middle of summer and vice versa, so to actually get to this book read and reviewed on schedule is something of a novelty in itself!
The book has an opening which really throws you head first into some rather chaotic action, an eventful storyline which chugs along nicely with not too many surprises, and an ending which is hugely satisfying if predictable. But who doesn't relish a bit of predictability in todays uncertain world, and especially at Christmas!
There are so many 'cozy' mysteries out there on the shelves with specific themes, that to find a 'cozy' romance with a strong emphasis on theme, is a whole new ball game for me! The Christmas Menagerie, is exactly what it says on the cover, a contemporary feel-good romance, with plenty of wildlife action for all you animal lovers out there.
Having no pets of my own, the thought of having this random, mini travelling pet shop, of various ill-matched animals and birds turn up on my doorstep completely unannounced, would really see me running for the hills. However Amelia, our reluctant, amateur pet-sitter, takes it all in her stride and copes with the situation as best she can, albeit with rather disorganised competence. It's a good job that there is a friendly vet on standby though, just to help out with the couple of odd unforeseen incidents, which add some unscheduled humour and mayhem to the festive period! This new friendship is also potentially on course for a romance which will last way past Christmas, if only life, a rival for Jules's affection, family and other people's pets, just didn't keep getting in the way!
Told largely from the perspective of Amelia herself, with just a few chapters added by her daughter Sophie, this book to escape into, offers story-telling which is full of heart and humour, multi-layered, rich in atmosphere and moves along at a fair pace. The chapters are short and sweet, with some great unscripted descriptive narrative and intelligent observational dialogue. Jules, the newly arrived vet, causes a ruckus in this small community, by closing down a family run business which has become unmanageable and downright dangerous, heaping onto himself the focussed wrath of Sophie, who does love a 'good cause' to become passionate about, particularly when she can deflect some of her own problems for a while. Not so good for her mother, Amelia though, who is as attracted to Jules, as he is to her.
Amelia has one potential rival for her affections and although she is a little uncertain about how to handle the situation, given that she is so not in tune with modern dating protocol, she does eventually manage to fend her off permanently, although not without the odd awkward incident. No raw passion or lust, just a profoundly touching story of two middle-aged, emotionally vulnerable people who are attracted to one another, coming together naturally, when the time is right and each have sorted out their feelings about each other and the personal baggage they both carry. Amelia and Jules are also mature and sensible enough to realise that they will be better together, if they have the full support of their respective families and close friends, so once Sophie and Jules have made peace, Amelia's second daughter offers her blessing and Jules's much younger son is ready to have someone else step into his mother's shoes, then the green light definitely means 'go'!
There is quite a profusion of 'bit part' characters, who make this saga what it is, bringing life to the village in a very three dimensional way. None of them are particularly complex, although all are engaging, sympathetically drawn and carefully defined by the author. The unique dynamics of so many diverse and multi-faceted personalities really works, making them easy to connect with and invest in as a group. Some of them might seem, and indeed are, a little larger then life, however there is a good synergy between them, which makes this strange mix work really well.
Minna has written a compelling and lovely, 'escape into' story, which immediately put me at ease and drew me in with a real sense of time and place, leaving me feeling totally relaxed and unhurried. A lovely fun read for anytime of the year!
I was really undecided about a review rating for this book, so here at Fiction Books Blog I am awarding 3.5 stars, however for any external review site this will be rounded up to 4 stars.
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
July 11, 2021
The most animals I have ever had responsibility for at one time has been five cats, and it wasn’t exactly the least stressful situation I’ve ever experienced. Five pairs of eyes following me around the house. Five different feline personalities ready for either a playful bat or a scratch at any moment. And heaven forbid you accidentally jostle their treat jar lest five sets of paws stampede you.
So author Minna Howard has crafted a heroine who’s far better than me. Oh sure, Amelia originally assumed she’ll only be looking after a dog over the Christmas holiday, but after the local kennel is shut down, she opens her home to a parrot, an especially slow tortoise, and a host of others until she’s practically ringleading a growing corps of animals. However, Amelia, still recovering from losing her husband the year before, finds herself almost welcoming the distraction.
With Amelia’s home turned topsy-turvy, though, Howard understands the need for a bit of Christmas magic. Fortunately, she’s ready with Jules, a new veterinarian in the village. From there, she weaves a charming story, dropping Amelia into a series of animal-related hijinks, festive parties, and somewhat strained family relationships—all with a delightfully slow-burning romance waiting for her to sort out her baggage.
Howard’s quiet style is on full display here, and it pairs nicely with the hectic situation she’s composed. Nothing ever feels overwhelming, making The Christmas Menagerie an absolutely cozy Christmas read. My recommendation? It’s best paired with cool day, a warm blanket, and an animal friend of your choosing.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
So author Minna Howard has crafted a heroine who’s far better than me. Oh sure, Amelia originally assumed she’ll only be looking after a dog over the Christmas holiday, but after the local kennel is shut down, she opens her home to a parrot, an especially slow tortoise, and a host of others until she’s practically ringleading a growing corps of animals. However, Amelia, still recovering from losing her husband the year before, finds herself almost welcoming the distraction.
With Amelia’s home turned topsy-turvy, though, Howard understands the need for a bit of Christmas magic. Fortunately, she’s ready with Jules, a new veterinarian in the village. From there, she weaves a charming story, dropping Amelia into a series of animal-related hijinks, festive parties, and somewhat strained family relationships—all with a delightfully slow-burning romance waiting for her to sort out her baggage.
Howard’s quiet style is on full display here, and it pairs nicely with the hectic situation she’s composed. Nothing ever feels overwhelming, making The Christmas Menagerie an absolutely cozy Christmas read. My recommendation? It’s best paired with cool day, a warm blanket, and an animal friend of your choosing.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
December 30, 2023
This is the 17 th Christmas romance this December. This was a family story in a small community in England over Christmas. Basically a middle aged widow spends Christmas alone without her daughters for the first time since her husband passed away four years ago. Her neighbor asks her to dog sit and she agrees. The kennel is shutdown by the local vet and word gets out she will take animals in. She thinks a tortoise has died when it was going into hibernation and calls the vet. He comes over with his son. He is also a widower having lost his wife a few years ago to cancer. He is attracted to her but his assistant at work is monopolizing his time and a single man pursues Amelia. Nothing happens romantically until the end of the book. The interaction and relationships of the towns people are interesting but the romance is lame. I gave this 3 ⭐️ stars.
December 31, 2020
Widowed only a year, Amelia moved herself and her daughters out of London for a ‘new start”, even as she misses her old life and her husband dearly. A teacher at the local school, she’s met several people, and while she’s planning a quiet ‘at home’ holiday with her two daughters out living their lives with their partners, she’s not really looking forward to it. But a friend and single mum needed a place for her dog to stay over her own very needed holiday, and the story begins.
New to the area veterinarian Jules and his young son have arrived in the small village and immediately shut down the local kennels. This caused no end of consternation for the locals, most feeling that he ‘overstepped’ and him knowing that the established kennels had become too much for the elderly owners. With no knowledge of pets, not having had any, and a worry that a hibernating tortoise was dead, Amelia needs Jules to explain and help her.
This was a lovely story encompassing healing, growth, grief and pets: LOTS of pets, and Amelia’s good-hearted yet utterly clueless caretaking. Bringing into focus the vet’s young son, his own struggles with his own losses, the expansive and wholly lovely family that Jules is staying with and the unexpected (and slightly early) return of Amelia’s daughters; each with their own news to share kept the story moving forward, and Amelia and Jules finding pathways to start a friendship that blossoms into a romance. A light-hearted (on the surface) story that brings people, animals and hearts into focus.
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
New to the area veterinarian Jules and his young son have arrived in the small village and immediately shut down the local kennels. This caused no end of consternation for the locals, most feeling that he ‘overstepped’ and him knowing that the established kennels had become too much for the elderly owners. With no knowledge of pets, not having had any, and a worry that a hibernating tortoise was dead, Amelia needs Jules to explain and help her.
This was a lovely story encompassing healing, growth, grief and pets: LOTS of pets, and Amelia’s good-hearted yet utterly clueless caretaking. Bringing into focus the vet’s young son, his own struggles with his own losses, the expansive and wholly lovely family that Jules is staying with and the unexpected (and slightly early) return of Amelia’s daughters; each with their own news to share kept the story moving forward, and Amelia and Jules finding pathways to start a friendship that blossoms into a romance. A light-hearted (on the surface) story that brings people, animals and hearts into focus.
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
October 8, 2020
A relaxing and funny story. Alone at Christmas? No as a series of pets are dumped on our heroine due to the forced closure of the local boarding kennels. Along come the handsome local vet and his young son, together with assorted relatives: a prickly daughter, various friends and other characters and the result is an amusing and slow burning romance. Perfect for a cosy night’s reading in front of the fire.
November 10, 2020
It's a light, entertaining and heartwarming read that made me root for the characters.
The only fault is that some dialogue are repetitive and made it less compelling.
Good character development, nice and tightly knitted plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The only fault is that some dialogue are repetitive and made it less compelling.
Good character development, nice and tightly knitted plot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 11, 2020
I was sent a copy of this on NetGalley to review....
Although this book gave me the Christmas themed escapism I was hoping for, it didn’t live up to my expectations. The dilemma seemed to be constantly summarised throughout making it quite repetitive. There was also some quite damaging behaviour and responses around toxic relationships that were never addressed. Overall, I was excited about the idea of this book, but sadly the delivery just wasn’t for me.
Although this book gave me the Christmas themed escapism I was hoping for, it didn’t live up to my expectations. The dilemma seemed to be constantly summarised throughout making it quite repetitive. There was also some quite damaging behaviour and responses around toxic relationships that were never addressed. Overall, I was excited about the idea of this book, but sadly the delivery just wasn’t for me.
November 3, 2020
The Christmas Menagerie by Minna Howard
Publication Date: November 5, 2020
.
Description from NetGalley...
“Amelia usually loves Christmas, but this year is her first one alone since her husband passed away – though she's not quite by herself. Somehow, she's been lumbered with a menagerie of pets over the holidays, no thanks to the new village vet closing the local kennels.
Between a parrot, two tortoises and god-knows-how-many baby mice, Amelia ends up seeing a lot more of Jules the vet than she planned to. And despite her neighbours' fury for the man who shut down a local institution, she can't help enjoying every moment she spends with Jules.
She tells herself it doesn't really matter as surely Jules will be driven out of the village by this time next year. But as Amelia's about to discover...love isn't just for Christmas!”
.
Thank you to @NetGalley @ariafiction for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts....
If you’re looking for a quick and cozy Christmas read you might like this book. This was my first book from Minna Howard. Overall, the book was okay. I was expecting more. The storyline needed more, there were repetitive conversations and musings. And for a romcom, the romance fell short and felt rushed towards the end. I did enjoy the whole theme of the animals and rebuilding a public kennel.
Publication Date: November 5, 2020
.
Description from NetGalley...
“Amelia usually loves Christmas, but this year is her first one alone since her husband passed away – though she's not quite by herself. Somehow, she's been lumbered with a menagerie of pets over the holidays, no thanks to the new village vet closing the local kennels.
Between a parrot, two tortoises and god-knows-how-many baby mice, Amelia ends up seeing a lot more of Jules the vet than she planned to. And despite her neighbours' fury for the man who shut down a local institution, she can't help enjoying every moment she spends with Jules.
She tells herself it doesn't really matter as surely Jules will be driven out of the village by this time next year. But as Amelia's about to discover...love isn't just for Christmas!”
.
Thank you to @NetGalley @ariafiction for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
.
My thoughts....
If you’re looking for a quick and cozy Christmas read you might like this book. This was my first book from Minna Howard. Overall, the book was okay. I was expecting more. The storyline needed more, there were repetitive conversations and musings. And for a romcom, the romance fell short and felt rushed towards the end. I did enjoy the whole theme of the animals and rebuilding a public kennel.
November 7, 2020
The Christmas Menagerie - Minna Howard
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Aria and Netgalley.
Amelia usually loves Christmas, but this year is her first one alone since her husband passed away – though she's not quite by herself. Somehow, she's been lumbered with a menagerie of pets over the holidays, no thanks to the new village vet closing the local kennels.
Giles is the new vet in town and following the closure of the local kennels, people are quick to jump to the conclusion that he was in the wrong.
I found this to be a quick, easy read. Whilst the title suggests that this is a Christmas book, Christmas is actually only a small part of the storyline.
This is the first book I have read by Minna Howard and whilst the story was slow-paced and repetitive I found myself unable to put down the book.
Rating: 4/5
A feel-good novel complete with a parrot, tortoises and a gecko.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Aria and Netgalley.
Amelia usually loves Christmas, but this year is her first one alone since her husband passed away – though she's not quite by herself. Somehow, she's been lumbered with a menagerie of pets over the holidays, no thanks to the new village vet closing the local kennels.
Giles is the new vet in town and following the closure of the local kennels, people are quick to jump to the conclusion that he was in the wrong.
I found this to be a quick, easy read. Whilst the title suggests that this is a Christmas book, Christmas is actually only a small part of the storyline.
This is the first book I have read by Minna Howard and whilst the story was slow-paced and repetitive I found myself unable to put down the book.
Rating: 4/5
A feel-good novel complete with a parrot, tortoises and a gecko.
December 8, 2020
A light read with a slow and steady pace. Actually, it was a bit light on the romance, and a bit light on the Christmas bit, too.
I was expecting a romcom and had to come back to check the category, which is actually women's fiction, and this made more sense. Still, I struggled to finish the book. Repetition in descriptions, LOTS of inner dialogue, and a lot of worry about first date expectations in the modern day, only to...well, no spoilers - the pace was slow.
Amelia can't seem to say "no", and ends up with a menagerie of animals to care for over the Christmas holiday. While this is the name of the book, it only takes up a portion of the book - the rest of the time, characters seem to delight in discussing it. She can't seem to say "no" to David, either, a hopeful suitor.
The broad cast of smaller characters gave it real personality, and it definitley captured the foibles of small town life.
I was expecting a romcom and had to come back to check the category, which is actually women's fiction, and this made more sense. Still, I struggled to finish the book. Repetition in descriptions, LOTS of inner dialogue, and a lot of worry about first date expectations in the modern day, only to...well, no spoilers - the pace was slow.
Amelia can't seem to say "no", and ends up with a menagerie of animals to care for over the Christmas holiday. While this is the name of the book, it only takes up a portion of the book - the rest of the time, characters seem to delight in discussing it. She can't seem to say "no" to David, either, a hopeful suitor.
The broad cast of smaller characters gave it real personality, and it definitley captured the foibles of small town life.
October 24, 2022
OK, I have to admit that I picked this book up for two reasons;
1. It's a Christmas book (I may be a Scrooge, but I can never say no to a Christmas story)
2. The title, seeing as I have over the years filled the house with a menagerie of animals, this book appealed to me.
So off the back of those two reasons I picked this up and couldn't put it down again until the very last page, I was hooked and I loved it!!
This book is the perfect escapism, it's cosy, cute, feel-good, heart-warming, and happy and will leave you smiling, I can't say enough good things about it. I liked the story, I liked the characters and I loved the menagerie of animals! Any books with cute fur babies hold my interest!
Minna Howard is new to me author and I will certainly be seeking her books out in the future.
Lovely and charming!
1. It's a Christmas book (I may be a Scrooge, but I can never say no to a Christmas story)
2. The title, seeing as I have over the years filled the house with a menagerie of animals, this book appealed to me.
So off the back of those two reasons I picked this up and couldn't put it down again until the very last page, I was hooked and I loved it!!
This book is the perfect escapism, it's cosy, cute, feel-good, heart-warming, and happy and will leave you smiling, I can't say enough good things about it. I liked the story, I liked the characters and I loved the menagerie of animals! Any books with cute fur babies hold my interest!
Minna Howard is new to me author and I will certainly be seeking her books out in the future.
Lovely and charming!
October 27, 2020
The Christmas Menagerie by Minna Howard is a very fun and cozy Christmas story. It’s set in a small town outside of London. The main characters are Amelia, who is a teacher and a widow and Jules, a widower and the town vet. They both have children. In addition to that, there are lots of animals and in addition to several relationships going on there is a side story about rebuilding a local kennel. The only negative is that there is a lot of repetitive conversations between characters and summarizing of the story events that got in the way a bit for me. Overall, I enjoyed this light read for the holidays.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
June 27, 2021
This is a nice story about nice people; such a difference from what the mainstream media shouts out. Amelia has been a widow for four years and her daughters are out of the house. She kindly offers to take in a neighbor's dog when the owner needs to leave town for the Christmas holidays. The local kennel was closed for health and safety reasons and soon Amelia has a cat, parrot, mice, and tortoises to care for. Fortunately the new veterinarian comes to her rescue when she has a problem. They hit it off right away, but circumstances keep them pretty much in their own separate lives.
Reading this book off season might be a way to mentally cool off during the summer, but it basically is just a really nice story that is good to read any time.
Reading this book off season might be a way to mentally cool off during the summer, but it basically is just a really nice story that is good to read any time.
October 17, 2020
The concept of this book is just great for a holiday romance. Amelia is alone for her first Christmas since her husband died and she gets landed with all of the neighbors pets. Enter the new, hot veterinarian. Holiday romance ensues. However, there wasn't much meat in this book. It's quite repetitive. The animal and Christmas parts were funny and cozy. But Christmas is over and done with pretty early in the book. It's a light, easy read and has some holiday feels. The writing could be much tighter and the main conflict throughout was rather dull.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
December 18, 2020
Amelia is spending her first Christmas alone since the death of her husband. To keep her company she decides to pet-sit a friends dog, however when word get out she ends up caring for more animals than she bargained for thanks to the village vet closing down the kennels. Now the Amelia will be seeing much more of the vet than she imagined, which is not a bad thing, is Amelia ready for a Christmas romance?
I loved this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 18, 2021
Amelia finds herself looking after the neighbourhoods pets over Christmas, when the local kennels are closed down by the new vet. She has a few amusing incidents with some of the animals and she needs to consult the vet.
The animals certainly keep her busy, on her first Christmas after losing her husband. You could just imagine all the cars rolling up, dropping off their pets, before jetting off.
This was a nice, cosy read.
The animals certainly keep her busy, on her first Christmas after losing her husband. You could just imagine all the cars rolling up, dropping off their pets, before jetting off.
This was a nice, cosy read.
January 28, 2021
I enjoyed the premise of this book as Amelia tried to come to terms with being alone and moving on. I particularly liked her predicament, stuck as she was between her enthusiastic and campaigning daughter and Jules, the vet who was responsible for closing down the local animal kennels. Amelia emerges as a likeable and relatable character with a kind heart and a wry sense of humour. An entertaining read for the festive season.
December 9, 2021
Having read quite a few books by this author in the past, I thought I’d give this her latest book a go, plus the timing was right, it being December, Christmas time.
This was a nice enough read, fairly entertaining with plenty of fun laugh out loud animal moments. I wouldn’t have said it was overly Christmas or festive, but it was still an enjoyable story nevertheless.
Great characters and pretty well written. Looking forward to reading her next book when it comes out.
This was a nice enough read, fairly entertaining with plenty of fun laugh out loud animal moments. I wouldn’t have said it was overly Christmas or festive, but it was still an enjoyable story nevertheless.
Great characters and pretty well written. Looking forward to reading her next book when it comes out.
October 31, 2020
I wanted to love this one. But I just don't. It was slow going, repetitive, and the characters just kept having the same conversations over and over again. Nothing even really happens until the last chapter or two. And even then, it didn't make me feel anything.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this title.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this title.
December 21, 2020
Although titled the Christmas Menagerie, that is probably only about the first half of the book. The rest is what follows after. It was ok, not amazing, a little repetitive in parts. All in all, it’s a feel-good easy read.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.
June 10, 2023
The Christmas Menagerie Minna Howard
A rather chaotic festive book about Amelia who is getting to grips with the first Christmas without her husband.
A slow story which is repetitive at times and you are hard pushed to spot the romance. A tad disappointing only saving grace was it was its festive them .2.5/5
A rather chaotic festive book about Amelia who is getting to grips with the first Christmas without her husband.
A slow story which is repetitive at times and you are hard pushed to spot the romance. A tad disappointing only saving grace was it was its festive them .2.5/5
October 27, 2020
To be honest, this was not my favourite book by Minna Howard. Too much repetition of some aspects of the story and a rather thin storyline. On the plus side, the story did feature some sympathetic characters.
November 17, 2020
What a lovely Christmas read this was. This has everything I wanted from a Christmas romance. It had lost love, new love, family and my favourite ANIMALS! Thankyou to netgalley and the publishers for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2022
A warmhearted Christmas story of Amelia trying to move on after losing her husband's and having to spend her first Christmas alone while looking after a load of animals. Good character,s Amelia and Jules were both likeable and some humour thrown in makes it a cosy Christmas read
November 16, 2020
Enjoyed the book and characters . The only drawback for me was the story had lots of repetitive dialogue.
December 21, 2025
A cute cozy Christmas read even though it ended around April and was extremely repetitive and one of the daughters were insufferable.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews