Review - Meet Me Under The Mistletoe by Abby Clements

An absolute Christmas cracker of a book! (Sorry but it had to be said!)

Rachel and Laurie were childhood friends yet since then their lives took completely different directions with Laurie being based in London, in a high flying career in fashion, and Rachel living a contented family life in Yorkshire. 

On the lead-up to Christmas, when Rachel’s mother in law needs to go to hospital in London, and when Laurie is given some unexpected time off at work, they chat about their various problems and a house swap seems to be the most sensible thing to do. 

Living each other’s lives is quite a novelty at first, but when they both settle into their new roles, they find that it is actually quite good.  Then Rachel finds something in Laurie’s house from their past that threatens to blow their friendship and their lives apart!

So many amazing first time authors around at the moment completely astound me.    The talent that is being discovered in the writing world currently is completely outstanding.  I really cannot believe that this is Abby’s first book.  She writes as if she’s been a best selling author for years.

This book was truly delightful.  I found myself actually living in Rachel’s gorgeous Yorkshire cottage and experiencing her home and village just like Laurie was doing.  I could smell the gorgeous baking smells that were coming from the homely kitchen, and could quite happily have been sitting by their roaring fire, enjoying a glass of wine and reading a book. 

At the same time I could also picture myself in Laurie’s home too, a home without knick-knacks to clean around, one that was functional, bright, trendy and modern. One that you are scared to death that your kids are going to maim!  The location was excellent, with the bright lights and attractions of London right on the doorstep and also with fantastic neighbours who had become friends and one in particular!

The ending was fairytale perfect, and left me feeling loved up, warm and cosy and Christmassy.  Shame it was October really, as I would have been really happy to get my tree out, break out the Christmas decorations, get sozzled on a mug of warm mulled wine and deck the halls with boughs of holly! 

 

This book certainly got me right into the Christmas spirit; Abby is a fantastic author and I’ll really look forward to reading more work of hers for many years to come. 

Abby Clements worked in book publishing before writing this novel. Her Christmas baking skills are upper-intermediate. Her countryside-survival skills are basic to none. She lives with her boyfriend in North London.  On the 1^st December she is also launching another Christmas book called The Christmas Bake Off.

Read more about Abby Clements at her website www.abbyclements.co.uk

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