Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain

 ***The sparkling new Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain!***

Wynter’s Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it’s where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.

But for Liza Wynter, it’s a millstone around her neck. It was her father’s pride and joy but now he’s gone, she can’t have anything to do with it. Until her father’s business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.

When Liza arrives, she discovers a much-loved business that’s flourishing under Ned’s stewardship. And she’s happy to stay and help for the Christmas season, but then she has other plans. But will the place where she grew up make her change her mind? And can it weave its Christmas cheer around her heart…?

Underneath the Christmas Tree is the perfect festive read, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley.

Title: Underneath the Christmas Tree

Author:   Heidi Swain

Published By: Simon and Schuster UK

Publication Day: 28th October 2021

Links:   UK:   Amazon       US:   Amazon

WHSmith

Waterstones

Our Review

Underneath the Christmas Tree is a wonderful slice of Christmassy heaven from beginning to end and I think has quickly become my favourite of all of Heidi’s fabulous Christmas books. 

First of all just look at that dreamy cover, I fell in love with that immediately and when I opened the book and found it was based on a Christmas tree plantation I thought 'eat your heart out hallmark Christmas movies.' 

Underneath the Christmas Tree ticks every box you would hope to find in a Christmas book and is just absolutely gorgeous. I could see Wynter’s lodge so clearly in my mind and really wanted to curl up in there with one of those delicious sounding hot chocolates. 

The book touches on every emotion such as grief, regret and guilt and it was interesting watching Liza work through all of those feelings. I loved the memories she had of her parents and how close she was to her dad’s best friend and especially how close she got with his son Ned, (who sounds absolutely gorgeous by the way.) It was also wonderful to see Liza being able to make such a positive difference to other people's lives which involved a fair amount of forgiveness.

This story is joyful with a real sense of community at its heart. I loved every word. A fabulously festive five star read that will really get you in the mood for Christmas.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Heidi lives in beautiful south Norfolk with her family and a mischievous cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her TBR pile is always out of control! To find out more, follow Heidi on twitter @Heidi_Swain or visit her website: heidiswain.co.uk. 

The Woman in the Middle by Milly Johnson

Shay Bastable is the woman in the middle. She is part of the sandwich generation – caring for her parents and her children, supporting her husband Bruce, holding them all together and caring for them as best she can.

 

Then the arrival of a large orange skip on her mother’s estate sets in motion a cataclysmic series of events which leads to the collapse of Shay’s world. She is forced to put herself first for a change.

 

But in order to move forward with her present, Shay needs to make sense of her past. And so she returns to the little village she grew up in, to uncover the truth about what happened to her when she was younger. And in doing so, she discovers that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to find the only way is up.

Title:   The Woman in the Middle

Author:   Milly Johnson

Published By:   Simon & Schuster

Publication Date:   14th October 2021

Links:    UK:   Amazon                      

WHSmith

Waterstones

Our Review

As most of you know I have read and loved every single one of Milly Johnson's books and this one got me right in the feels just like the others. Each one has played a beautifully emotive tune on my heartstrings for one reason or another, especially the teashop on the corner which had me a blubbing wreck on my husband's fiftieth. But there was just something even more special about this one, the woman in the middle could be any one of us, it might not necessarily be being in the middle of parents and kids but being in the middle of something and being pulled in different directions felt very relatable. The thing with Shay was that she was just trying to do her best in the circumstances she found herself in and she was shat on from a great height. Wife, daughter, mother and friend, Shay has lost herself in all the roles she has to play in everybody else's lives and before she finds herself again she really finds out who is on her side.

I would say Shay is now one of my favourite characters in a book, Milly has a knack of showing us how extra-ordinary seemingly ordinary women are and Shay was certainly put through the mill. Ferociously protective of her mum and her children I could really empathise with her and shared her anger and grief at what she went through. The back story that unfolded was heart-breaking and the journey Shay goes on had me cheering her on throughout, sometimes out loud.

I really loved this story about a lovely lady who's had enough and fights back, giving it everything she's got.

Thoroughly recommended to snuggle up with on a cold winter's night as it will warm you up from the inside. Emotive, raw and uplifting. This book comes with a little piece of Milly's heart inside.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 18 published novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poem and joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015 and the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020. See her popular acceptance speech here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxzeFTvHXDo&fbclid=IwAR27aZML4er_dZLgD2e-URQdBoOK3L9hM8mauFpn3aFvAws7y3VVtXsYTvI

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Milly's website is www.millyjohnson.co.uk. She is on Twitter as @millyjohnson, Instagram as @themillyjohnson and has a Facebook page @MillyJohnsonAuthor. She also has a monthly newsletter www.millyjohnson.co.uk/newsletter with exclusive, news, offers and competitions.