Published: 14th November 2019 Publisher: Trapeze
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback, Audio Genre: Romance
Nine lives. One street. And a secret behind every door.
Christmas is ruined on Newbury Street, Norwich.
Presents have been going missing from resident's homes.
There are rumours going around that it's one of their own who's been stealing from the neighbours.
Festive spirit is being replaced with suspicion and the inhabitants of Newbury Street don't know who to trust. The police presence isn't helping matters, especially when they all have something to hide.
But Christmas is a time for miracles... and if they open themselves up to hope and look out for each other, they might discover the biggest miracle of all.
REVIEW..
This is said to be the feel good Christmas book of the year.. and it so is! I can not express enough how much I loved this book...
I was a little bit weary of reading a Christmas read at the beginning of November as I was not in the festive spirit yet BUT this book completely changed that for me and now I am absolutely buzzing for Christmas!!
I absolutely loved the characters and how the book was written, every chapter is a different time with a different neighbour, all set over a 24 hour period starting at 3:08am Christmas Eve and ending at 12pm Christmas Day. 3:08am a thief, who has been breaking into neighbours houses and stealing only Christmas gifts that have been brought and stored away ready for Christmas Day, this home is where Frank and Jen live, 118 Newbury Street. The thief lets himself in with a key and helps himself to all the toys and electronics that are stored for the next day. All neatly wrapped in foil paper and ribbons, he pours them into a bag and then heads to the kitchen to empty the full to bursting fridge of all the Christmas dinner food, drink and even the gingerbread cookies that are on the side that the children have made, all goes into the bag. As he leaves he strokes the cat on his way out, happy in the knowledge that he has just ruined Frank and Jens first Christmas together.
9:13am Joanie Blake, single mum to her two young children who lives in flat 5 is there for everyone, regardless of what she is going through, this is her first Christmas without her mum, who she lost to cancer last year. Tash her younger sister is still rebelling and refusing to talk to there dad who moved on with his best friends wife, in there opinion far to quickly and when old Mr Finch who lives beneath them in the flats is found dead by Joanie in the park early that morning she instantly tells the police officer she will invite Mrs Finch to hers for Christmas as she was once good friends with her mum and they have grown up around the Finchs since they were little.
Wendy and Len Finch have lived on Newbury Street for years, once a part of the community now they do not go out, they huddle together as they can not afford heating and are both thin and frail due to eating tinned fruit and drinking cups of tea to survive.
It was not always like this, they once owned a beautiful home before they had to move to the small flat they currently reside in, but regardless of the poverty, they are to proud to ask for hand outs and will keep going until things turn around, which they will at some point. They are sure of it.
Then Len is found dead in the park on Christmas Eve morning and Wendy finds herself sitting in her lounge talking to two lovely policemen and being asked if she would like to stay at Joanies for Christmas.
Wendy deep down is grateful and accepts as she is so grief stricken she feels like she can't say no, anything to make everyone go away and leave her in peace.
10:20am Sue Winters, Landlady of the Mariners pub is preparing for a busy Christmas Eve, herself and her husband, Larry have organised a money drive to get some gifts and money back to the people of Newbury Street for Christmas, as thats what good neighbours do isn't it?
But she can't help but wonder why she can not shake that little worry at the back of her mind that when she woke up in the early hours this morning, why was Larry not beside her? and it is not the first time he has gone missing during the early hours... surely he must be outside in the private area having a smoke??
No one knows who is breaking in and attempting to ruin Christmas for all on Newbury Street but everyone has there own opinions...
You can’t help but fall in love with every single character, every family has there own things going on and all are trying to get to Christmas Day in one piece.
I would say my favourite character is the stray cat!! He visits every neighbour and has a different name in every door!! But aside from him my next favourite has to be Joanie! she is struggling with the grief of her mum, trying to make Christmas perfect for her two children whilst also attempting to bring her dad and sister back together, to make a lovely Christmas for poor Mrs Finch and also push back the niggling doubts that she keeps having about her girlfriend Irma's feelings are not as strong as her own.
This wonderful festive story combines love, crime, friendship and family and a festive feeling that lifts your heart and makes you smile all the way through. If you read one book this Christmas, make it this one.
I do not doubt it will be the festive book of the year.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hayley Webster is a writer and teacher who grew up in Newbury, Berkshire.
Her first novel, Jar Baby, was published by Dexter Haven in 2012 and, as Hayley Scott she has written three books in her Teacup House series for emerging readers were published by Usborne in 2018.
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I hope you liked reading my review.
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