Catherine Tinsall is gearing up for Christmas - in the middle of summer.

As the Writer in Chief on Happy Homes magazine, she is putting together a 'perfect Christmas' competition, to remind readers of the festive season's true meaning. In the sleepy Shropshire village of Hope Christmas, Marianne Mistletan enters with the suggestion that her village's nativity play be held in the ancient chapel of Fitzcross Manor, home to the St Nicholas family. Catherine is completely entranced by the idea, and Marianne to her delight finds that she has won. Waiting in the wings to help Marianne organise the set design is the cool and charismatic Joe Carpenter, who may or may not be just what she wants for Christmas.

Meanwhile, for Catherine, the Happy Homemaker image is wearing thin, as her fifteen-year old marriage appears to be in trouble. Then tragedy strikes and Catherine is forced to reassess her priorities, and work out what the perfect Christmas really means. And overseeing it all, is the figure of John St Nicholas, lord of the manor and perhaps, for some, a Christmas angel! For anyone who's wondered whether Christmas is over-priced hype, think again...

Thought this seemed familiar....have read it before! Nevertheless it passed a pleasant couple of hours.....& here's what I thought of it first time around:

Well, as you'd guess from the blurb, this is a heartwarming tale - just curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea (or coffee!) & a biscuit (or three!!) & you'll pass a very pleasureable few hours. It does just what it says on the cover -there's no great surprises, it's pretty clear how everything is going to end up & it even gets away the cheesy ending as you'll probably be expecting such a revelation - you'll see what I mean if you read it!

Released as part of the CHRISTMAS IN JULY CHALLENGE (#26)


If you're reading this then you've found a travelling book!

The point of releasing book into the "wild" is that they are a free gift from the bookcrosser to the finder.However, in this case, the book was given as a donation to a charity shop so you will have had to pay for it. Thank you for purchasing it & contributing to the charity.

Or maybe you found it else where....if so, please tell us where it has travelled to!

I hope you enjoy reading it & when you've read it, why not do entry to say where it's going next & then all it's readers, past & present, will be able to follow it's travels.

(If you decide to join in the fun at bookcrossing, please consider putting me, Plum-crazy as your referring member.....help spread the words!)