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Christmas at the Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page #Review

  Christmas arrives in Essendale in Jennifer Page's latest novel, Christmas at the Board Game Cafe which was published on 10th October by Aria . Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface Kate’s lonely, and she longs to feel part of a family – especially during Christmas. With the holiday season fast approaching, and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate conceives a brilliant plan: an enchanting living Advent calendar. Each December evening, a captivating window display will be unveiled across town. With local businesses struggling, including her best friend’s board game café, she's feeling the pressure.   But Kate’s picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend arrives in Yorkshire, insisting on creating the Christmas Eve display. Can Kate trust him to deliver a show-stopping window? And can she finally put the past behind her

Happy Ever After for the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett #Review

 

It is time for a visit back to Cornwall for the last in Jo Bartlett's great Cornish Midwives series, with Happy Ever After for the Cornish Midwife. It was published by Boldwood Books on 5th July 2023.  

 

The emotional finale to the bestselling Cornish Midwife series! Get your tissues ready!

Midwife Jess is so used to helping other mums achieve their dreams that she’s put her own hopes of motherhood firmly on hold. After having her heart broken once before, Jess is determined to focus all she has on her small family and stepson Riley and make sure he feels safe, happy and loved.

But when Jess is asked to care for a tiny baby and new mum in need of support, she’s torn. Jess wants to help, but she isn’t sure her battered heart could cope with saying goodbye to another baby she’s fallen in love with.

Jess knows this could be the happy ever after she’s always dreamed of, but what if it costs her more heartache along the way? Is she brave enough to take one last chance at motherhood?


 My Thoughts

It is quite an achievement to tie up all the loose ends and bring a series like The Cornish Midwife to a satisfying conclusion, but Jo Bartlett does it! There are so many characters who have featured. Hopefully, the door has been left open for some future stories. This story centres on Jess who has decisions to make about IVF. If that fails again, she knows that she will have to look at other options. Family and friendship, as ever, are at the heart of the story. There are patients to deal with and big changes for some of the midwives.

    Jess never loses sight of the needs of Riley, the little boy she has adopted and knows that he is desperate for a sibling.  There are emotional moments in the story and the infertility support group offers reassurance to several, all of whom has a different reason for attending. There are also some funny moments to lighten the stresses. You certainly feel that motherhood is a job for life, as you see the dynamic between family members. Not everyone acts in a way which makes them likeable but you come to appreciate their points of view. This has been such an engrossing series, full of warmth and humanity.

In short: family, friends, support

 

 


About the Author

 

Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast.

 

You can read my reviews of earlier books in the series here: The Cornish Midwife  |  A Summer wedding for the Cornish Midwife   |  A Winter's Wish for the Corrnish Midwife  |  A Spring Surprise for the Cornish Midwife  |  Mistletoe and Magic for the Cornish Midwife  |  A Change of Heart for the Cornish Midwife 

 You can follow Jo here: Facebook  |  Twitter   |  Instagram   |  Newsletter sign up  |  Bookbub profile 

 Purchase links

Thanks to Jo Bartlett, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

 

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