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Dreams Come True at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas #Review

  Manchester, 1943. I am delighted to feature another in the WW2 saga by Maisie Thomas. Dreams Come True at the Wartime Hotel  was published on March 29th by Boldwood Books .    Kitty’s new venture, hosting wedding receptions at Dunbar’s Hotel, has got off to a flying start, and she’s looking to the future. With the tide of the war turning and victory on the distant horizon, Kitty is keen to keep her independence once the men come home. But will her spendthrift husband Bill agree to a divorce – and to letting her keep the business? Beatrice’s work in welfare is hugely rewarding, and she loves the children’s clubs she runs at Dunbar’s. But when a spate of thefts breaks out locally, the police become involved. Could the children be to blame, or can Beatrice help discover the true culprits? Former hotel maid Lily knows she still loves her estranged husband, Daniel. But can there be any chance of a reconciliation, when he discovers she is pregnant with another ma...
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More than Mistletoe by The Christmas Collective #Review #ShortStories

If you love dipping in and out of a short story anthology then this festive collection will be just up your street. More than Mistletoe was published on November 1st. 

Cosy up for Christmas with 12 very different tales of love with all the festive feels!

More than Mistletoe, the debut anthology from The Christmas Collective, is an eclectic and inclusive mix of stories, with swoon-worthy characters, second chances and happy endings.

Between the pages, you will discover classic romance, festive thrillers, LGBTQ+ love stories, hilarious romcoms and historical settings, these stories really do span the whole spectrum of festive fiction.

Featuring twelve up and coming new authors, this refreshing, diverse and romantic read, is a must-have read that will leave you reaching for your Christmas jumper, gingerbread cookies and a mug of hot chocolate!


 My Thoughts

With twelve writers all contributing to this anthology, you have a chance that no matter what your preference, there might be something here that you will warm to. An anthology of festive short stories, you can pick this up then put it down and really savour the experience. 

    In the second story, Christmas for Two by Marianne Calver,  there is a good mix of humour and poignancy and the two central characters are in their middle age, facing a Christmas post retirement and without their adult children on the day. Having grown apart somewhat, the strain begins to show. Nevertheless, there is genuine emotion between the characters. 

    Under the Tree by Cici Maxwell features characters from the other end of the age group, There is plenty of unrequited love and teenage angst. Interestingly, there is to be a follow up to the story, as described by the author which throws the outcome of this story into some doubt.

    My personal favourite story is Christmas at the Little Blu Bookshop by Sarah Shard. Who can resist the thought of a bookshop set around December? Michael's attempt to open his very own puts him at the heart of the village of Applewood in the Lake District. This is a story set in 1979 before social media and the internet. Letter writing was an important way of keeping in touch and Michael hankers after his childhood penfriend.  The author also flags up a follow up story, December for Dad, which takes the story on forty years to a sadder time but one in which letter writing is as important to the story.

    With some stories as prequels to follow up novels, there is quite a bit to whet the appetite. You will enjoy the range of styles. This is certainly a great stocking filler to have this Christmas.

In short: a festive mix

 

About the Authors


 

‘The Christmas Collective is a group of twelve romance authors who came together when shortlisted for a festive romance competition. Together they have created two Christmas Romance anthologies, More Than Mistletoe (2021) and The Mistletoe Mixtape (2022).

The Christmas Collective authors are spread far and wide, across the UK, Ireland, Spain and South Korea, however, one thing connects them despite the distance: a love of romance and Christmas.’

You can follow the Christmas Collective here: Website |  Facebook 

                                                        |  Twitter |  Instagram   |  TikTok

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to The Christmas Collective and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 



 

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