Welcome to another festive read by Jo Thomas. Christmas at Hollybush Farm was published by Penguin on October 9th.
Jemima Jones is driving home to her family's magical
hill-top farm for Christmas…
And on arrival, she soon learns that her dad has been
keeping a secret – all is not as it seems, and Hollybush Farm is struggling to
make ends meet! Worried about losing the childhood home she loves, Jemima must
pull on her winter wellies and get stuck in.
Amid the chaos of chasing after escaping sheep and
organising the Christmas tractor run, Jemima begins documenting her slice of
farming life on social media. As she builds a supportive online following, she
also forms an offline connection in the shape of charming, retired rugby player
Llew, her very own Santa's helper.
With a sprinkle of festive cheer and a dash of goodwill,
might the community pull together to help save the farm in time for Christmas?
My Thoughts
Jemima returns home to find that her whole life has been upended as her father has been harbouring a secret from her. She had thought that her future was destined for a corporate job in Canada with her nearly fiance but it sems her sense of responsibility and connection she feels for the farm are stronger than she realised.
As Jemima struggles to keep the family farm running, there are several humorous moments and situations she finds herself in which show you her common sense and community feeling. Jemima enjoys meeting villagers again and is soon invested in the future of the place she grew up in and the lives of her friends. You also get a sense that Jemima's grief over the death of her mother has never really been addressed and she has chosen to use work as her refuge and her escape. Back in the farmhouse she has to confront her felings about the past. With a gentle romance and Christmas preparations, you get a real sense of local life and future possibilities.
In short: heartwarming characters
About the Archers
Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer,
including time at Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Radio 2's The Steve Wright Show.
Jo's debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway
bestseller and won both the RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the Festival of Romance
Best eBook Award. Her book Escape to the French Farmhouse was a #1 bestselling
eBook.
Jo loves to explore new countries and discover the food
produced there, both of which she thoroughly enjoys researching. Jo lives in
Pembrokeshire with her husband and three children, where cooking and gathering
around the kitchen table are a hugely important and fun part of their family
life.
You can read my review of Jo's The Honey Farm on the Hill here
Coming Home to Winter Island here Escape to the French Farmhouse here and Finding Love at the Christmas Market here, Celebrations at the Chateau here Retreat to the Spanish Sun here, Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe here A Recipe for Christmas here
Thanks to Jo Thomas, Penguin and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour!
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