My Christmas reading is well underway, and this trip to the Cotswolds was a treat. I’m definitely a fan of Jill Steeples’ writing, and there’s nothing nicer than a lovely Christmas story. This book is loosely connected to her current series, which is also set in the Cotswolds, and if you’d like to read my reviews of the previous books, please follow these links: The Forever Cottage and Healing Hearts at the Forever Cottage.
My thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachel’s Random Resources for the blog tour invite and support, and to Boldwood Books for arranging my digital advance reading copy, which I received via NetGalley. You can read my thoughts below.
Synopsis
Isla Stewart has a glittering publishing career in London, but when she’s unexpectedly made redundant, she faces an uncertain future.
Licking her wounds, Isla heads home to the Cotswolds. Keeping her devastating redundancy a secret from her proud parents, she seeks refuge at Finch’s, the enchanting bookshop she worked in as a teenager. With the owners struggling with their health, Isla steps in to manage the shop hoping to convince them that the business has a future.
Isla likes nothing more than chatting to people about books, but her safe haven is soon disturbed when she comes face-to-face with her first love, Charlie Brace, made worse by the arrival of Guy Madley, the incredibly handsome property consultant who has advice for owners Jon and Miriam.
As Christmas approaches, Isla has decisions to make. Does her future lie in London or can a whole heap of books and a sprinkling of festive magic offer a life that she could never even have dreamed of?
Purchase Links
Review
The Cotswold Christmas Bookshop is set in the fictional Cotswold Village of Upper Leaping, which neighbours the location of Jill’s current series, set in Lower Leaping. There is some crossover with characters but nothing that would put a first-time reader at a disadvantage.
I really loved Isla. I could easily imagine her devastation from losing her dream job and understand her reasoning behind concealing that information from her parents. I think many of us share the instinct to run home when things aren’t going well. Of course, that’s not always an option, so it was comforting to see that Isla’s family welcomed her back into the fold so warmly. Her story arc was heartwarming, and I genuinely enjoyed seeing her grow as a result of her return to Upper Leaping.
The addition of a handful of terrific characters, including bookshop owners Jon and Miriam Finch, old flame Charlie Brace, and property consultant Guy Madley, gave the story a rich cast, and I felt drawn in. This is an ensemble piece, and community is at its heart. Some wonderful additional characters aren’t mentioned in the synopsis, and one of them absolutely captured my heart.
This story focuses on a theme close to many of our hearts: the fate of high street shopping and, in particular, the sad demise of bookshops. Yet the sprinkling of festive magic lightens the message and creates a hopeful outlook for the future.
Of course, this book is romantic fiction, and I can promise you plenty of butterflies and frissons of attraction. The whole story is beautifully told and wrapped up with a Christmas bow. It’s a must-read for me. Utterly delightful.
Author Bio
Jill Steeples is the bestselling author of feel-good, escapist fiction. Her stories are perfect for fans of Heidi Swain and Cathy Bramley. Set in the close communities of cosy English villages, her books explore the themes of starting over, friendship and love across the ages, as well as the healing properties of nature and the great outdoors.
Her novels are described as heart-warming and uplifting, designed to leave a smile on your face.
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