A Christmas Celebration: the cosiest, most joyful novel you'll read this Christmas

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This book was heavily influenced by love of music and I have to confess, listening to music is actually not one of my favourite pastimes, however I loved how it brought Beth and Eli closer and helped them battle demons. The lost friendship between Eli and Pete was a really clever aspect, not usual to have a male friendship as such a focus. If you haven’t read any of the stories in this setting you will still enjoy The Summer Fair. I highly recommend you do though as you will get added depth from the actions of the characters on the periphery.

Well this was a welcome escape from the real world. Heidi Swain always lets you delve deep into her worlds, walk along with her characters and enjoy some really tasty meals in the coffee shops and pubs that she creates and it is always a welcome escape to me. Overall I thought this was a fantastic, compelling novel which I got lost in for hours at a time. I loved following Tess, Sam, Joe and Hope as they go about their lives in Weymouth and slowly become part of the community. There are some great hidden meanings in this book too about how important friendship is and how it’s important to take chances sometimes which just made this book for me.

Chapter 1

Whilst there Tess meets an array of characters, all ridiculously lovely - young and old - and forges many friendships whilst she keeps extending her stay. I like the fact that she doesn't sit idle and feel sorry for herself and throws herself into the community spirit and assisting friends with their own woes and businesses.

Another community we get to know well are the residents at the care home where Beth works. Oh, there are some fabulous characters, all adding their charm and wit to this story. I loved seeing how Harold was getting on!As well as two of the three Connelly sons, Jamie and Archie, their partners lived at the hall too, along with a whole host of staff who were so close to the family they were also considered kin. Music was a massive focus for this book, showing the different holds that it can have on people - both positively and negatively, but I think we can all agree that it definitely provokes memories and brings feelings right to the surface. Music really can be a complete mood changer can’t it and both Beth and Eli see this throughout the book. She also has memories of the most spectacular first kiss of her life behind the beach huts when she was a teen there, and a small part of her is hoping to see if that man is still there or generally see if there are any familiar faces still to her. There are some other wonderful characters we get to meet in this novel too. Sophie has the aforementioned coffee shop that we know will always feature in some way or another in a Heidi Swain novel and her daughter Hope share a definite affinity for making things bigger and better with main character Tess. And then there are Joe and Sam. Each mysterious in their own way, we can tell there is going to be some romance where these guys are concerned.

Because,’ he then said, his voice louder again, ‘I was going to suggest you headed to somewhere other than the house. Somewhere that you’d find a bit of company, but if you’d really rather be alone . . .’

Just like Tess though I kept assuming that I knew the outcome to every scenario. You know what they don’t assume because it makes an ass out of ‘u’ and ‘me’. Well lets just say I was fully onboard with all of Tess’s theories and had I been there with her I doubt she would of been the only one left red faced. It had taken me a while to come to terms with it, but deep down I had known my time working in Jordan was coming to an end. I knew even before the loss of corporate funding made the number of aid workers unsustainable. I always look forward to a Heidi Swain novel and this one was high up on my reading list! The sunshiney cover screamed summer and the location looked so picturesque that I couldn't wait to delve in and read all about Tess and Sam! Beth loves her job at a local care home for the elderly. She isn’t so keen on her living arrangements, so when a house share on Nightingale Square becomes available Beth jumps at the chance. I raced as fast as possible to NetGalley when Heidi Swain posted on social media that review copies were up for grabs. I kept my cool and held off reading for a good few weeks to try and wait for some brighter weather to help transport me to the seaside, however I don't think I needed to bother waiting as Heidi's beautiful writing took me right there.