Ruby has finished with university and is heading home for the holidays to save up for her trip around the world in January. Against her father’s wishes, she takes on a stall at the local market, and sets about making it the best Christmas market stall ever. There’ll be bunting and mistletoe and maybe even a bit of mulled wine.
But with a new retail park just opened on their doorstep, the market is under threat. So together with all the other stallholders, Ruby devises a plan to make sure that Wynbridge is the first port of call for everyone’s Christmas shopping needs.
The only thing standing in her way is Ruby’s ex, Steve. It’s pretty hard to concentrate on saving the world when he works on the stall opposite, especially when she realises that her feelings for him are still there…
This Christmas make time for some winter sparkle – and see who might be under the mistletoe this year…
Review: this is one of those proper heartwarming Christmas reads and definitely something that should be in your festive TBR! this is the third book set in the village of Wynbridge and I haven't actually read the first two but, let me tell you, that really didn't matter! So now you know that you can read this book without having read the first two! I will tell you though that if you are planning on reading either of Heidi Swain's previous novels, you should read them first because otherwise you will be spoiled by things that are revealed about the characters in this novel. Now that that's out the way, let me go into my thoughts a little more.
I loved the premise behind this novel, Ruby returns to Wynbridge and goes to work on a stall in the market for her friends who run the Cherry Tree Cafe. But her parents are against her doing this and she has just decided not to carry on with her masters. Returning to a home town around Christmas time is something that a lot of people will experience and so m ah readers will be able to relate to this. We also know that this can come with downs as well as ups and so this is also something readers will be able to relate to. The whole storyline is incredibly uplifting though. Ruby has to face a lot of stuff coming her way and the way she deals with it all is admirable and makes for really compelling reading.
I also loved the friendships in this story. Ruby has a lot of friends in Wynbridge and she makes a lot more over the course of the novel! I really loved the characters in this book, they are all so unique. I particularly love Ruby's closest friendship group, they are all so forgiving and so hardworking too, I really admired that about them. As I mentioned above one of the things I loved about Ruby wa that she never gives up and she is determined for things to go the right way, but she is also a romantic at heart and so I could really relate to her. She has an interesting relationship with her family and so that was fun to read about and of course there is her scandalous relationship past to contend with too!
I loved the setting of this book, I think this is partly because I grew up in a market town and so so much of this book felt so familiar to me and I could properly picture the market and the atmosphere of a town like this at Christmas. Even if you haven't been to a Christmas market before, this book will transport you there and transport you to a world of magical warmth, hard working people and proper festive spirit. I so enjoyed reading this book and I know you will too!
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