I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour to celebrate the launch of Catherine Miller's Christmas at the Gin Shack. In this book, she returns to the characters from The Gin Shack on the Beach.
Gingle bells, gingle bells, gingle all the way…
Olive Turner might have lived through eighty-four Christmases, but she’ll never get bored of her favourite time of year. And this one’s set to be extra-special. It’s the Gin Shack’s first Christmas – and there’s a gin-themed weekend and a cocktail competition on the cards!
But, beneath the dazzle of fairy lights and the delicious scent of mince-pies, Olive smells a rat. From trespassers in her beloved beach hut to a very unfunny joke played on her friends, it seems that someone is missing a dose of good cheer.
Olive knows she’s getting on a bit – but is she really imagining that someone in the little seaside town is out to steal Christmas? More importantly, can she create the perfect gin cocktail before Christmas Eve – in time to save the day?
My Thoughts
I was struck by the range of characters who form the community in Christmas at the Gin Shack. They set the book apart. Olive, the central character is in her 80's with all the life experience that that brings. Some of her challenges are age related and it was refreshing to see them set in a piece of contemporary fiction. There's lots of humour to be had at the Gin Shack and it was lovely to read about such a warm, inclusive community.
In addition to a bit of budding romance, there's also a mystery to be solved. It is not obvious how it pans out and some of the characters surprise you. I particularly liked the friendships which Olive has formed, and found her relationship with Lucas, the young son of Skylar, to be particularly touching. The plot flowed along nicely and although I was reading it in October, nevertheless, I got a warm, festive feeling- it's just right for those cold, dark nights.
In short: a fabulous cocktail of festive fun.
About the Author
When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren't full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with HQDigital UK. There is a possibility she has aged remarkably in that time. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016. She is now the author of four books and hopes there will be many more now her twins have started school. Either that, or she’ll conduct more gin research on Olive’s behalf.
Thanks to Catherine Miller, her publishers HQ Digital and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the Tour.
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