Bella's Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston

 

"That was it. She needed a Sarah Connor-style life makeover. Without the guns".

Don't worry if you think you're having a déjà vu moment, I did a cover reveal for Bella's Countryside Christmas only recently. 

Since then, I've read it, and it happened to be my first Christmas book of the coming festive season.

Bella's Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston is a sweet romantic comedy, and the latest in the Love in the Comptons series.

It was lovely to revisit the village of Haileybrook, and catch up with some of the characters who have appeared previously in the series. All the stories are separate, and each reads as a standalone.

Bella’s Countryside Christmas

An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …

Trying to escape the most boring work-related pre-Christmas evening do, Bella decides to visit a church in the neighbouring village of Haileybrook. While admiring the interior and Christmas decorations, she inadvertently overhears a conversation between two strangers. One of them departs, leaving the other in a pickle. There is a wedding happening in the next hour, and Jack's plus-one has cancelled on him.

Bella volunteers to act as a fake date, taking pity on Jack, who just happens to be very handsome. As the day unfolds, Bella comes to realise that Jack's mates are rather dismissive of him, and totally take him for granted.

"A ghostly hand squeezed Bella's heart. She knew what it felt like to be rejected and unfairly maligned. And she wasn't about to let these people belittle Jack for being a decent person whose main fault seemed to be that he wasn't rich".

There is an immediate chemistry between the two, they feel comfortable in each other's company and enjoy a friendly banter. The evening turns truly magical. However, family business makes Bella leave the wedding party in a hurry. 

Hypnotized by the beauty of the countryside around Haileybrook, Bella decides to drastically change her job and move away from London to the serene location of happy memories.

A year later she gets a job in the Brookfield retirement village, finds a cosy little cottage to live in, and dreams of a peaceful festive season. This move is supposed to be a beginning of a more relaxed life.

"She had moved to Haileybrook to concentrate on herself. She would start her job tomorrow. Settle in and eventually make some friends, perhaps get a little involved in the local community. Romance was the last thing she had planned."

Relaxed life is not on the cards though. Bella is plunged deep into a demanding job, and cannot help but get involved in the local drama and small-scale feuds. And while romance is the last thing on her mind, she has to re-think her ideas of a solitary "peaceful" Christmas. Matters of the heart rarely respect our thoroughly laid plans.

I enjoy Claire Huston's humour, she is brilliant with describing her characters, with their quirks and habits. It's not just the main protagonists, there is a plethora of supporting characters, who are masterfully portrayed to create a convincing and true to life setting. Then there is a witty banter and some very amusing observations that will make you chortle, as you will definitely recognise the pompous and self-centred people and awkward situations. 

There is also a dash of cosy crime thrown into the main story, which does not deflect from the romcom.

Bella is a girl after my own heart, as she enjoys her food, and does not count calories (though even I might have raised an eyebrow at her love of cakes, not in a critical but rather admiring way).

Set against the beautiful winter background, Bella's Countryside Christmas makes me dream of a white Christmas. Could we please have some snow? 

Fresh and funny, Bella's Countryside Christmas is hugely enjoyable. An excellent premise, and great fun. If you're looking for a seasonal read in the near future, this book is a perfect candidate.

Many thanks to Claire Huston and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/BellasCC

Publication Date: 18^th September 2024

Author Bio –

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

Social Media Links – 

https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author