A Country Village Christmas

Welcome to Thorndale #4

by Suzanne Snow

Can the magic of Christmas and the community of Thorndale bring two lost souls together in love? Olivia and Tom will find out when they are forced to share a house for the holidays.

Olivia is a career-focused woman with a grown up daughter who doesn’t have time for Christmas or community. She returns to Thorndale to help with family and encounters Tom, a writer and former actor who's lost everything...and they must share a house for the holidays. They have met once previously by chance, and the evening ended in disappointment. Thorndale will have to work its magic and teach them to share what they have and consider living life differently.

The perfect festive romance for fans of Victoria Walters and Trisha Ashley.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Holiday, Contemporary Romance

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

About the author

Suzanne writes uplifting fiction inspired by romance and rural life. Subscribe to Suzanne's newsletter to download a bonus chapter and read on after 'The End.'

Reviews

[Phoebe]

DNF for a second time so I think I’m done with this one😂 the story definitely had potential but the writing style isn’t for me at all - very slow and focuses on random things which aren’t relevant at all. Just a lot of “she did this and he did that and she said this” which got repetitive for me very quickly!

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Country Village Christmas - Suzanne Snow

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Canelo and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Can the magic of Christmas and the community of Thorndale bring two lost souls together in love?

Olivia doesn’t have time for Christmas or for romance – she’s got a demanding career and has been burned before when it comes to love. This year, she’s spending the festive season in her dad’s old house, packing it up now that he’s moved out. Her dad failed to mention she wouldn’t be spending her time there alone…

This is an enjoyable light-hearted read. It is the fourth book in the series, however I read and enjoyed this book as a standalone. It is a beautiful tale about love and friendship, as well as a lovely sense of community.

If you are looking for a heart-warming, uplifting, light read then this is the perfect seasonal book for you. With a realistic storyline, this book feels like a real family Christmas.

Rating 4/5

[Colleen Earle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine.
I liked the book selling element. I really am a sucker for books about books which is why I initially wanted to rate this higher.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars.

The FMC is an emotionally stunted career woman who spent entirely too much time inside her own head. Her communication skills are severely lacking even on her best days, and she managed to make up a lot of problems for herself and everyone around her because she refused to address the real issues.

The romance worked pretty OK all things considered and the Christmas vibes were decent.

Also, the proposal in the end was so cringe, cliche, and most certainly not needed!

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic read a perfect book for the festive season and will have you hooked very early on with great characters and great to go back to the popular village and full of romance and being happy with yourself just a perfect read.
Olivia is going back to her dads house for the festive season to pack it up ready for it selling and she heads there the weather is bad and she didn’t realise that when she gets there she will get a surprise as her dad has forgotten to tell her that a friend of his will be staying there to have time for him to write and get away but the problem is they have just met and had a night together but they wants to resist each other and will they manage it and will she pack her dads up and forget him or will they be thrown together and find love and happiness.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s lovely to return to Thorndale, this time around in the winter chill!

Olivia is a busy career woman who doesn’t really indulge in the celebrations that most of us look forward to. As Christmas approaches, she adds sorting out her father’s house to her to-do list now he’s moved into a flat in town. What she doesn’t expect is for a man to turn up having been invited by her father to stay; it’s more of a surprise when it turns out they’ve met – and flirted – before. Olivia doesn’t do romance, been there, got burnt once and isn’t open to being hurt again. However, Tom has nowhere else to go so, for her father’s sake, she just has to make the best of it as wintry showers move in. Will these two survive being thrown together?

With each Christmas book I review, my gift list gets more added to it; one more book and I shall be all done! Starting to read, I very quickly remembered visiting Thorndale before; even through that was in summer, it was undeniably the same village. This time round, there are all the things going on which come with winter and the festive season and which make any Christmas novel sparkle. With marvellous – and charismatic – characters, a well-paced storyline and the most gorgeous of settings, this is a sparkling festive read. Suzanne Snow writes beautifully about her characters and draws the reader in so easily – a sign of good writing! A fine festive read, and one I’m very happy to give 4.5*.

[Laura Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great Christmas romance! I see that it is part of a series, one that I hadn’t read before, but I don’t believe it impacted my enjoyment of this book. Olivia and Tom are perfect characters with stories that are relatable. I enjoyed the angst and the Christmas spirit!

[Rosie Wilkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute christmas book

[Joanna Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve loved all the books in the Thorndale series and saved this one to read nearer Christmas. A lovely cosy read.

[Tiffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful cozy read for the holidays! Closed-door spice, but still sexy and sweet. The story was very “mature hallmark.”

[Sasha Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok…I found the pace to be kind of slow and it didn’t really pull me into the story. It picked up a bit towards the end but this one was just ok and won’t be very memorable. Probably a 2.5 but I am rounding down because I have read a lot of great books recently and this one just fell flat.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Suzanne Snow, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of A Country Village Christmas ~ Welcome to Thorndale ~ Book 4 that I won in the Giveaway.

After a chance meeting in a storm, Oliva and Tom meet again at her father's home over Christmas and end up staying in the house. They make each other laugh, they enjoy similar interests and both have a connection that they try to ignore calling it a friendship.

This is a lovely Christmas story set in a small English village with a happy ending. It is full of emotion as a love for each other develops from the start.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favourite book in the Thorndale series. Tom and Olivia’s story was lovely and an added bonus was Olivia’s dad Hugh’s bookshop in the garden, how fabulous was that and the tweeting of the Christmas books was an bonus special treat as some of my favourites were there. A special Christmas story to curl up and relax with ❤️

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at Sam’s for a cute Christmas story. It was boring. It did get better toward the end but I was already sick of it by then.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make yourself a hot chocolate, find a comfy chair and curl up with Suzanne Snow’s latest delightful, warm-hearted and uplifting romantic tale, A Country Village Christmas.

Olivia has got neither the time nor the inclination for affairs of the heart – or for Christmas. She’d been burned once before and with a busy career occupying most of her time, Olivia simply cannot afford to waste effort or energy on romance or on holiday festivities. With her dad having moved out of his house in the village of Thorndale, Olivia plans to spend the festive season packing the house up. Trying to fit this in with the million and one demands on her time will certainly keep Olivia busy. However, what her father had omitted to tell her was that she would not be alone in packing up his house…

It’s not the first time that Olivia had clapped eyes on Tom. She has barely recovered from the shame and embarrassment that had overwhelmed her when he had literally run a mile from her after an evening of mutual flirtation. All of Oliva’s hopes that she would be getting to know Tom better had been smashed to smithereens when he’d gone running for hills. She had hoped that she would never have to see Tom ever again – but thanks to her father, it seems that she has got no other choice but to spend the Christmas season in close proximity to him!

Tom is feeling kind of lost lately and as he has nowhere else to go, he planned on staying at Olivia’s father’s cottage for a while to lie low and figure out what to do next. As him and Olivia find themselves spending more and more time together, that old spark rekindles. Trapped in because of a snow storm, will Olivia and Tom give into their attraction for one another? Or are any hopes of a romance between the two of them destined to be dashed?

Suzanne Snow’s A Country Village Christmas is a magical, charming and feel-good Yuletide romance that is impossible not to fall in love with. The more Suzanne Snow writes about Thorndale, the more I fall in love with this beautiful village I would love to live in. A Country Village Christmas is the emotionally satisfying love story of Olivia and Tom, two brilliant characters you are going to fall in love with. They are both smart, flawed, mature and kind-hearted characters you cannot help but care about.

A book that ticks all the right boxes, Suzanne Snow’s A Country Village Christmas is romantic escapism at its most sparkling.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book four in the Welcome to Thorndale series. I had no idea it was part of a series when I began reading it. It works fine as a stand-alone although I am interested in reading the other books.
This Christmas romance is set in England. The main characters, Olivia and Tom, are middle aged.
I enjoyed this Christmas romance. I like Olivia and Tom. It was interesting to have a character who was an actor but is changing career to writer. I have occasionally wondered about actors who have left the limelight and what their lives are like after. I found Tom and his story believable. Olivia, a single mom whose adult child is in the process of making her own life, is a much more familiar character. I understood her hurt and her fears, although I did want to shake her a couple of times. The storyline with Olivia returning to her family home after her father moves into an elder community was also familiar as I deal with my aging parents and all their possessions. You never really know how much you, or your parents, have acquired until you need to move it all. The supporting characters peaked my interest and are the reason I would like to read the previous books. I absolutely adored the book shop and, even though there was some sadness with a book shop closing, the scenes in the book shop warmed my soul. I loved the Christmas book theme and old traditions becoming new that Olivia and Tom had going on. The author, whose work I had not read before, did an excellent job of making you feel as though you were right there. There was some tension between Olivia and Tom but also some teasing, fun and light passion that moved along at just the right pace.
If you are looking for a Christmas romance that is modern but feels a little like another time this book may be what you are looking for. I was always aware that the time is the present yet it felt magical like Christmas tales set in the past often do for me. It was a delightful mix. I do recommend it to all who love or dream of Christmas romance in a small English village.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. My voluntary review is based on my thoughts, feelings and enjoyment while reading this book.

[Hayley Marsland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth and final book in the delightful Thorndale series, and I think I enjoyed this one the most, although they've all been such gorgeous books, and I'm really sorry that this is the last of them.

Olivia Bradshaw has returned to Thornedale and is spending the festive season in her dad's house, she's actually packing it up for him, as since he's gotten older, it's a bit too big for him, so he's moved to a flat nearer the town.

What her dad fails to mention to Olivia though, is that he has invited a friend, Tom to live in the house as he has nowhere else to go, what is even more surprising is they had actually met the night previously, but after a little fun and flirtation, Tom ran from Olivia.

Tom is a bit lost at the moment, his acting career took a bit of a dive and he's really not sure what to do next, so Olivia decides to help him find his way again.

But it being winter the weather takes a turn for the worst leaving them confined together in the house, will the non starter of a romance from a couple of weeks before spark up again ?

I loved hearing about the tiny book shop in the annex attached to the house, and Tom's enthusiasm for sorting it all out for Olivia's dad, and the Twitter account #Christmas book for the day was such a sweet idea.

If you're familiar with the previous books in the series you will recognise characters from those, but this is very much a stand-alone story, but I really do encourage you to read them all and in order if you can, I guarantee you will enjoy them all.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia and Tom are thrown together in the most unlikeliest of circumstances and although the attraction between them is there neither of them have the energy to pursue something in which they may both get hurt. Both these lovely characters have to work out what they want from life, Tom is at a particularly difficult period in his life and workaholic Olivia, with her grown up daughter making her own way in life and Olivia's father downsizing, Olivia is left to clear out her childhood home with all the associated memories. However, fate has a funny way of intervening, and with Christmas approaching Olivia and Tom find that being thrown together, in Thorndale, isn't quite so bad after all.

In this fourth book in the series the lovely village of Thorndale comes to life and as always the little quirks of village life are there as the community comes together for a festive Christmas. The author has certainly made this series into a lovely set of stories and whilst each can be enjoyed as a standalone read it makes sense to follow the series from the start and so get to know just what makes Thorndale such an enchanting place live.

A Country Village Christmas is a delightfully, festive story, with a thoughtful romance at its heart, which is just perfect escapism for a wintery afternoon by the fireside.

[Dea Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia is spending the Christmas holiday at her dad's old house so she can pack things up now that he no longer lives there. She was going to spend the holiday alone, when to her surprise she learns that her father is letting a friend stay at the house. Turns out she's met this man before. She spent one night having fun and flirting with Tom before he ran away from her. But Tom has nowhere else to go, so she's stuck spending the next few weeks with him. Will spending time together reignite the spark they felt that night? Or will it drive them crazy?

A Country Village Christmas is the fourth book in the Welcome to Thorndale series, but reads perfect as a standalone. This is a forced proximity, second chance Christmas romance. Tom and Olivia have the perfect chemistry. Their teasing and flirty banter is reminiscent of a couple that has been together for years, not one who has just met. Tom and Olivia were made for each other. They both had such a significant impact on each other's lives. It was so great watching their relationship evolve, while also seeing each of them grow and change too.

Favorite Quote: "... it's not our failures and mistakes that have to define us but how we respond and whether we let them prevent us from trying again."

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Setting: small English village 🇬🇧

Olivia is spending the Christmas season in her dad’s old house, packing it up now that he’s moved out. Except her dad failed to mention that she wouldn’t be there alone. The last thing Olivia expects is for the surprise guest to be the very man who ran from her after an evening of fun and flirtation in a pub. Tom has no where else to go and Olivia is determined to forget the disappointment she felt after he took off. Heavy snow cancels Olivia’s plans and keeps her and Tom in the house together, will their forced confinement spark romance again?

UGH BORING. FORGETTABLE. 😵‍💫

This book has above a 4 star rating on GoodReads so I had decent hopes for it. This story could’ve been a cute Christmas romance story… however it was so slow-paced and boring. It was very wordy and gave too much information about completely irrelevant events — buying groceries, packing boxes, etc. Felt like the story dragged on and on which caused me to skim over parts. 😴

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - plenty of reviews like that out there already!

This was an enjoyable light read, perfect for the holidays despite it being set in wintertime!

I liked the interplay between the characters, the setting and seasonal aspect - the fact that books were involved was an added bonus! I didn't realise when I started that the book is part of a series - set in the fictional village o Thorndale - but it works just fine as a standalone read.

The writing evokes a real sense of community, with friendship and family at the heart, and the main characters are well drawn. I could easily imagine this book being made into a "feel good" movie.

This is the first novel I've read by this author, but I'd happily read others.

This book will be perfect if you're looking for an uplifting light read - a cosy novel with a seasonal and romantic theme.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

[Sarah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. This is obviously one in a series set in or around Thorndale but I've not read the others and didn't have any problems reading this one as a stand alone.
What a super story - It had me from the beginning and I like the way our characters met.
I enjoyed having a the hero who was not the usual well off/ millionaire and the woman being the career person in the relationship.
I loved the idea of Tom and his pride and Hugh and the bookshop.
A fairly short book at 294 pages so easy to read in one day. I love books at this length as you can find out what happens in one hit. No pages also of unwanted excessive descriptive text which always drives me bonkers!
I found the writers style easy to read and she swept me up in her tale quite quickly.
A lovely Christmas tale that is a good book to give as a gift as no swearing, sex or violence.
I've really enjoyed reading this book with a slightly different twist to it and would recommend it to others.

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Country Village Christmas is a lovely story that leaves you feeling warm and cosy. The characters in this were absolutely lovely and it has a really good festive feel.

Olivia meets Tom in a pub and they both feel a spark of attraction towards each other but they don't follow through on it. They see each other again after that when they realise that they'll be housemates for the weeks leading up to Christmas through some clever planning on Olivia's father's part.

I loved how the relationship between Olivia and Tom blossoms, with each of them gradually sharing their insecurities and fears. I found the book hard to put down at times, wanting to know how things would progress between the two and when they'd realise that they're meant to be together. The setting and mood were perfect for Christmas and set the tone beautifully.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book in the 4 book series, set in Thorndale. I'll be sorry to see this series disappear, I've loved spending time in Thorndale. I liked how the main characters from previous books are mentioned, so you can see their stories are complete too.

Olivia and Tom's story is All about taking a chance on love, when you've had your heart destroyed before; and you've built a wall of work around you so you don't get hurt again. It's a beautiful story and well worth a read.

Whilst each book is a standalone story, and can be read in isolation from the others, characters from previous books are mentioned; so the books are best read in order of publication, to preserve continuity of the characters and series.

[Book Nibbler]

***** Spoilers

I really didn't like the first scene of the book where the two MCs meet and pretend to know each other even though they have never met each other. It was pretty stupid and unbelievable. Later she travels to her father's house to clean it out and sell (he has moved out). Oh but her father didn't think to tell her some strange man would be staying there, so she is scared to death when she hears someone creeping around the house at night when she is alone. Not to mention the MMC is a dick. She tries to be nice to him but he is so rude to her (dude is homeless and offered a free place to stay and the key to her father's bookstore and he is still an ungrateful twat).

It definitely has the winter vibes.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this beautiful cosy heartwarming read that was so much more than just a Christmas book. I hadn’t read the other books in this series and was my first visit to thorndale but that didnt detract from this beautiful story about love and friendship and how people are not always who they initially seem and that it is worth going with the flow and giving things a chance as the outcome might surprise you. The characters were relatable and jumped out of the page as did the beautiful descriptions of the surroundings it made me want to spend Christmas curled up in a cottage in Thorndale with the snow outside and a hand chocolate in hand and a good book. This was the perfect escapism read.

[Tara Hyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia is on her way home to see her Dad when she is stranded in a hotel due to a snow storm. Whilst there, she shares a meal with fellow stranded traveller Tom and feel an instant attraction. When she finally makes it home, she is melancholy as it will be her final Christmas in her childhood home before it is packed up and sold so she tried to put her work addiction behind her for the time being and focus on family. Little does she know that her father has a few secrets of his own for her final stay and one of them may just be very familiar to her. This was a quick, light hearted Christmas read that was quite enjoyable.

[Laura Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia is very busy with her career. So the last thing she needs is to have to pack up her Dad’s old home now that he has moved.

Tom has been given the opportunity to stay in Olivia’s dads home to finish his new novel. However, Olivia has no idea and is stunned when she bumps into him in the hallway, late at night. After all this isn’t the first time the two have met…

Is there a chance of romance?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back to Thorndale feels deliciously familiar and I found Olivia’s story to be a warm and uplifting read. There are enough festive touches to make it the ideal read for this time of year and a will they, won’t they romance to keep you engaged. I loved the idea of Olivia’s Dad’s bookshop in the garden- who wouldn’t want one of those? This is a gentle story with characters who have some working out to do- what next? They felt like good company on a cold winter’s day.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘A Country Village Christmas’ is a warm, holiday read that guarantees festive romance and relatable characters. The book admittedly has a slower pace, but at its core is a fun, quick read, a story about second chances, Christmas cheer, and the power of both love and literature.

I wasn’t aware when I began that this book was part of a series, but Snow’s world building gives the village of Thorndale a heart that beats through the pages, and now I can’t wait to explore all of it’s seasons and stories.